Atlanta, Georgia – A lucky Powerball player in Georgia struck gold on Wednesday night, winning an estimated $478 million jackpot and bringing an end to the state’s nearly decade-long streak without a jackpot winner. The winning numbers for this incredible prize were 2, 15, 27, 29, 39, and the red Powerball 20.
The fortunate winner, who remains unidentified, now has the option to receive the $478 million over 29 years or take a one-time lump sum of approximately $230.6 million. The odds of winning the Powerball grand prize are a staggering 1 in 292,201,338.
In addition to the Georgia winner, two ticketholders in Pennsylvania and Texas also had reason to celebrate as they matched all five white balls to secure a $1 million prize. The excitement of these wins broke a dry spell of jackpot winners, with the most recent win occurring two months earlier in California for $44.3 million.
Over the past 14 years, Georgia has sold four jackpot-winning tickets, with one notable win by William and Heather ten Broeke who secured a $246 million prize in 2016. Opting for the $165,613,510.93 cash value, the couple shared their plans to use the fortune for travel, family, investments, and charitable donations.
It’s worth mentioning that a $77.1 million ticket that was sold in Georgia back in June 2011 went unclaimed. Georgia lottery players typically have 180 days to claim their prizes, a guideline that is followed by many other states as well.
Looking beyond Georgia, there is still an unknown Mega Millions player in New Jersey who purchased a $1.13 billion ticket in March and has yet to come forward to claim the massive prize with just over five months left to do so. The excitement and anticipation continue to build for the lucky ticket holder who could be sitting on a life-changing fortune.
These jaw-dropping lottery wins serve as a reminder of the thrill and excitement that comes with playing the lottery, and the life-changing potential that such wins can bring to fortunate players. It’s a reminder that dreams can come true with just a stroke of luck and the right set of numbers.