Two lucky winners from Missouri and Texas won $1.08 billion Powerball lottery prize

  Minara Helen: Two Powerball players in Missouri and Texas matched all six numbers in Saturday's draw and will split an estimated $1.787-billion jackpot. The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61 and 62, with a red Powerball of 17, according to The Associated Press. The Saturday win ends a 42-drawing streak without a jackpot winner and produces the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot on record; each ticket holder may elect a 30-year annuity or a one-time lump sum, both before taxes. The large rollover attracted nationwide attention and generated millions of smaller winners across the country. Two tickets matched all six winning numbers and will split the prize. With final ticket sales, the jackpot totaled $1.787 billion; the advertised annuity figure had been widely reported as about $1.8 billion. The win matters because the prize is the second-largest in U.S. lottery history and ends a record-long run of 42 drawings without a winner, a stretch that began after the last top-prize claim on May 31. Payout options for each ticket holder include an annuitized share of $893.5 million or a one-time lump sum of $410.3 million, both before taxes. When it was thought one person would win, before the jackpot was split, they would have had a single-winner cash option of roughly $826-$827 million before taxes. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9, according to Powerball's statement. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Powerball tickets are $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries. Powerball Product Group chair and chief executive officer of the Iowa Lottery Matt Strawn said: "Congratulations to our newest Powerball jackpot winners and the Missouri Lottery and Texas Lottery for selling the winning tickets. " Each $2 ticket sold during this Powerball jackpot run gave players a chance at the prize, while also supporting vital public programs and services in their communities—and that's worth celebrating!" Winners have varying claim deadlines depending on the state where the ticket was purchased; they typically face between several months to a year to come forward, set their identities and choose payment options. The jackpots reset to $20 million for the next scheduled drawing. U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully, as cash prizes are also awarded for matching the red Powerball or other numbers in the winning combination. Top 10 Powerball Jackpots $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – California $1.787 Billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – Missouri, Texas $1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - California $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 –California, Florida, Tennessee $1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – Oregon $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 –California $842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – Michingan $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – Wisconsin $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – Massachusetts $754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - Washington.   [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/CS