$1.73 billion Powerball: In 3 weeks, 6 Florida winners bought million-dollar tickets at Publix
After months of rollovers, we finally have a billion-dollar Powerball winner − in California.
But Florida had two lucky winners from the Wednesday, Oct. 11, record-setting $1.73 billion draw: Two tickets matched five numbers to win $1 million each. They were purchased from Sunshine Supermarket, 50 Wilson Blvd. South, Suite 1, Naples, and Publix, 12500 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise. Two tickets from Arizona and Pennsylvania each matched five numbers plus the Power Play to win a cool $2 million. Two tickets in California, one from New York, Oklahoma and Virginia each won $1 million.
That's a total of $11 million in second-tier prize money for nine tickets.
Big wins for Publix shoppers in Florida with Powerball
According to the Florida Lottery, Publix was one of two lottery retailers that sold a second-tier prize. As of early Thursday, it had not been announced whether the Sunrise Publix location or Sunshine Supermarket in Naples received a lottery commission.
Wednesday, Oct. 11, numbers were 22-24-40-52-64 and the Powerball was 10. Power Play was 2x.
How long does an Oct. 11, 2023, Powerball winner from Florida have to claim their prize?
According to Florida Lottery rules, winners have 180 days to appear in person at lottery headquarters to claim annual payments. Because the drawing occurred Oct. 11, the $1 million Powerball winner who bought a ticket at Sunshine Supermarket in Naples or the Publix store in Sunrise has until Monday, April 8, 2024, for annual payments, or 60 days (Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023) to claim a one-time, lump sum payment. (See below for specifics on deadline to claim.)
Did a Publix store in Florida sell a winning Powerball ticket?
This Powerball series, which started in July, produced several second-tier (or million-dollar) winners in Florida. In less than three weeks, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 11, there were nine second-tier winners here, with a majority of those million-dollar winning tickets being sold at a Publix. Here's a quick recap:
In the Powerball drawing for Saturday, Sept. 23, for $785 million, a winning ticket purchased from Publix, 4606 Kirkman Road, Orlando, was worth $1 million.
In the Powerball drawing for Monday, Sept. 25, for $835 million, a ticket purchased at Publix, 3343 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Kissimmee; Walmart Fuel Station, 2845 N. Old Lake Wilson Road, Kissimmee; and Circle K, 31734 E. SR 44, Eustis, each produced $1 million winners.
In the Powerball drawing for Saturday, Sept. 30, for $960 million, a ticket purchased from Publix, 262 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, and Publix, 695 Kristine Way, The Villages, was worth $1 million each.
In the Powerball drawing for Monday, Oct. 9, for $1.55 billion, a ticket matched 5 plus the Power Play for a $2 million prize. That ticket was sold at Publix, 9359 Sheridan St., Hollywood.
As listed above, in the Powerball drawing for Wednesday, Oct. 11, for $1.73 billion, two tickets matched five numbers to win $1 million. The tickets were sold at Sunshine Supermarket, 50 Wilson Blvd. South, Suite 1, Naples, and Publix, 12500 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise.
Interestingly, two Publix grocery stores in Florida each sold the winning ticket for a billion-dollar lottery jackpot.
One of three winning tickets for the $1.586 billion Powerball drawing on Jan. 13, 2016, was sold at a Publix in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
The winning ticket for the Aug. 8, 2023, Mega Millions drawing for $1.58 billion was sold at a Publix in Neptune Beach, Florida.
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How much was the Powerball lottery jackpot for Wednesday, Oct. 11?
an estimated $1.73 billion with cash option of $756.6 million
How long has Powerball rolled over?
This Powerball jackpot streak started July 22, with rollovers till the current pot. Before that, one ticket purchased in California matched the six numbers to win the Wednesday, July 19, lottery jackpot of $1.08 billion. The prize, the seventh largest jackpot in the history of Powerball and Mega Millions, has not yet been claimed.
Here's a snapshot of how the jackpot has climbed (in so short a time).
Saturday, Sept. 30: $960 million
Saturday, Sept. 9: $500 million
How many Florida Lottery retailers are in Florida?
There are more than 13,000 authorized Florida Lottery retailers here, the site states.
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I bought Powerball ticket in another state. Can I cash in my winnings in Florida?
No. Powerball prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased, the Florida Lottery says.
When do Florida lottery tickets expire?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it. Florida Lottery says its scratch-off tickets and Fast Play game prizes "must be claimed within 60 days of the official end-of-game date. Once the applicable time period has elapsed, the related Florida Lottery ticket will expire."
What happens to the unclaimed prize money?
According to the Florida Lottery, state law requires 80% of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20% is returned to the prize pool for future drawings.
What happens to unclaimed Powerball prize money?
Should a Powerball ticket not be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date, the Florida Lottery site states, "the funds to pay the unclaimed jackpot will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series." According to Powerball's site, "unclaimed prizes are kept by the lottery jurisdiction. If a Grand Prize goes unclaimed, the money must be returned to all lotteries in proportion to their sales for the draw run. The lotteries then distribute the money, based on their own jurisdiction's laws, to other lottery games or to their jurisdiction's general fund, or otherwise as required by law."
What are the odds of winning Powerball?
Powerball drawings are held at 11 p.m. EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. According to Powerball.com, players have a 1 in 292.2 million chance to match all six numbers. Prizes range from $2 to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
Can Florida lottery winners remain anonymous?
According to Florida Lottery's website, winners cannot remain anonymous: "Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner's name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information."
However, the site states, since May 25, 2022, the "names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner."
Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.
When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more?
As of Oct. 11, 2023, there have been nine lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion.
9. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: A single ticket won in Michigan.
8. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: A single ticket won in California.
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: A single ticket won in Illinois.
6. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023: A single ticket was purchased in Maine.
5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: A single ticket won in South Carolina.
4. $1.58 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: A single ticket won in Neptune Beach, Florida
3. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three tickets won from California, Florida, Tennessee.
2. $1.73 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023: A single ticket won from California.
1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: A single ticket won in California.
Who won, how long did it take to win Powerball, Mega Millions and those billion-dollar jackpots?
What are the Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots ever?
Here are the Top 10 Powerball jackpots as of Oct. 11, 2023:
10. $687.8 million — Oct. 27, 2018; Iowa and New York
9. $699.8 million — Oct. 4, 2021; California
8. $731.1 million — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland
7. $754.6 million — Feb. 6, 2023; Washington
6. $758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts
5. $768.4 million — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin
3. $1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
2. $1.73 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023; California
What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots ever?
The following Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots made the Top 10 biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, as of Oct. 11, 2023.
10. $768.4 million Powerball drawing — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin
9. $1.05 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
8. $1.08 billion Powerball drawing — July 19, 2023; California
7. $1.337 billion Mega Millions drawing — July 29, 2022; Illinois
6. $1.35 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
5. $1.537 billion Mega Millions drawing — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
4. $1.58 billion Mega Millions drawing — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida
3. $1.586 billion Powerball drawing — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
2. $1.73 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023; California
1. $2.04 billion Powerball drawing — Nov. 7, 2022; California
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Powerball for Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, produces 2 Florida winners
