Illinois Ticket Claims $1.04 Billion Powerball Jackpot in August 2026 Drawing

The drawing took place on August 12 2026 and produced a single winning ticket for the estimated $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, marking the largest prize awarded in the game that year and the eighth-largest in Powerball history overall. The winning numbers were 4-26-66-67-69 with Powerball 9, and the ticket was sold at a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh location in Quincy, Illinois. The cash option value reached approximately $450.5 million before taxes, while the winner has remained unidentified in public records.

Details of the August 2026 Drawing

Powerball officials confirmed the numbers drawn on August 12 2026 matched exactly on one ticket purchased in Illinois, triggering the full jackpot payout. The game requires players to select five numbers from 1 to 69 plus one Powerball from 1 to 26, and this combination produced the record sum for 2026. Observers note that the jackpot had rolled over multiple times before reaching the announced total, building steadily through ticket sales across participating states.

Location of the Winning Ticket

The ticket originated from the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh store in Quincy, Illinois, a site that processes lottery sales alongside everyday retail items. State lottery records list this specific retailer as the sole seller of the jackpot-winning entry, with no additional tickets matching the full combination anywhere else. Illinois Lottery personnel verified the sale through standard validation procedures that confirm ticket authenticity and retailer details before any prize claim advances.

Prize Breakdown and Payment Options

The advertised annuity value stood at an estimated $1.04 billion, while the lump-sum cash option totaled around $450.5 million before federal and state taxes reduce the final amount. Winners who select the annuity receive payments over 30 years with annual increases, whereas the cash option delivers one immediate payment subject to tax withholdings. Data from the Illinois Lottery indicates that most large jackpot recipients choose the cash option, though the final decision rests with the ticket holder after consultation with financial advisors.

Powerball rules set the cash value based on market interest rates and investment returns at the time of the drawing, producing the $450.5 million figure released alongside the annuity total. Taxes on such prizes vary by state, and Illinois applies its own withholding rates in addition to federal obligations that can exceed 30 percent combined depending on the winner's overall tax situation.

Winner Status and Public Identification

The holder of the ticket has not come forward publicly, consistent with Illinois lottery policies that permit winners to claim prizes through legal representatives while maintaining privacy. State law allows anonymity for certain large prizes, and officials have released no further identifying details beyond the purchase location and drawing date. Claims processes typically require the winner to present the physical ticket within the required timeframe, after which validation and tax paperwork proceed before funds transfer.

Historical Ranking of the Prize

This $1.04 billion jackpot ranks as the largest Powerball prize awarded during 2026 and places eighth on the all-time list for the game since its launch. Previous larger jackpots occurred in earlier years when rollovers extended over longer periods, yet this 2026 drawing produced the top amount for that calendar year alone. Lottery records track each jackpot by its advertised annuity value at the time of the draw, providing consistent comparison points across decades of play.

Conclusion

The August 12 2026 Powerball drawing delivered a single $1.04 billion winner through a ticket sold at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh in Quincy, Illinois, with numbers 4-26-66-67-69 and Powerball 9. The cash value option reached about $450.5 million before taxes, securing the prize as the biggest of 2026 and the eighth-largest in Powerball history. The winner has stayed out of public view, and further updates remain unavailable pending any official claim announcements from the Illinois Lottery.