$1.04 BILLION POWERBALL JACKPOT TICKET SOLD IN QUINCY

QUINCY, ILLINOIS — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Quincy is now holding a ticket worth more than one billion dollars.

The Illinois Lottery confirmed Thursday that the sole jackpot-winning ticket for Wednesday night's $1.04 billion Powerball drawing was purchased at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh at 310 North 36th Street in Quincy.

The ticket matched all five white balls — 4, 26, 66, 67 and 69 — along with Powerball 9. The August 12 drawing ended a run of more than three months without a Powerball jackpot winner.

The winner has a choice between the approximately $1.04 billion annuity or a $450.5 million cash option before taxes. The jackpot is the largest Powerball prize won so far in 2026 and ranks as the eighth-largest Powerball jackpot in the game's history.

And the person holding the ticket isn't the only big winner in Quincy.

Illinois Lottery officials say Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh will receive a $500,000 cash bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.

As of Thursday afternoon, lottery officials had not publicly identified the winner. Illinois Lottery officials are urging whoever has the ticket to sign the back immediately, keep it in a secure location and seek professional financial and legal advice before claiming the prize. The winner has one year from the August 12 drawing to claim it.

The enormous jackpot also generated substantial money for Illinois schools. During the jackpot run that began May 4, Illinois players purchased more than $53.8 million in Powerball tickets, generating more than $21.5 million for the state's Common School Fund, which supports K-through-12 public education.

The Powerball jackpot now resets to $20 million for Saturday's drawing.

RiverNewsLive.com will continue following the story as the search begins for the holder of one of the most valuable lottery tickets ever sold in Illinois.