$2 Billion: US Resident Wins Biggest Lottery Prize in History

A Powerball lottery participant has hit a $2.04 billion jackpot, according to Business Insider. This is the largest amount ever won in the lottery. The current winner surpassed the previous record holder by $400 million.

The owner of the lucky ticket guessed the winning numbers just a few hours after the start of the draw. After the message about this appeared on the official website of the lottery, the excitement subsided. Powerball tickets are sold in 45 US states, the drawing is always a sensation, and residents of states that do not participate in the lottery come to where they can buy tickets.

The name of the lucky winner is not known, but it is known that he bought a ticket at a service center in the Californian city of Altadena near Pasadena. For the sale of the winning ticket, the business owner received a $1 million bonus from Powerball.

The winner can choose from two options for receiving the prize - a lump sum payment or a gradual payment over 29 years. More often than not, they prefer a one-time payment. All winnings are subject to federal taxes, reducing payouts by more than a third. Many states also impose their own taxes on winnings.

A lottery ticket costs $2. The odds of winning are 1 in 292 million, so the jackpot isn't won every year.