CHICAGO — An Illinois Lottery player is waking up a billionaire after winning the $1.04 billion Powerball® jackpot in last night’s drawing — this is the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois.
The winning ticket was purchased at Hy-Vee Gas, located at 310 N. 36th St. in Quincy, Illinois.
The jackpot winner matched all six winning numbers — 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, and Powerball 9 — to secure the top prize in the August 12, 2026, Powerball drawing.
In addition to the life-changing win for the player, the lucky retailer will receive a $500,000 cash bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
The jackpot is the largest Powerball prize won so far this year and the eighth-largest jackpot in the game’s history, capping an exciting months-long jackpot run that captivated players across Illinois and the nation.
“This is an exciting day for Illinois,” said Harold Mays, Director of the Illinois Lottery. “We’re thrilled for the winner and the retailer that sold the winning ticket. Beyond celebrating this incredible win, every Powerball ticket purchased during this jackpot run also helped generate funding for Illinois public schools, demonstrating how the Lottery continues to benefit communities across the state.”
Since the jackpot run began on May 4, Illinois Lottery players purchased more than $53.8 million in Powerball tickets, generating over $21.5 million for the Common School Fund, which supports K–12 public education throughout Illinois.
The jackpot winner has one year from the date of the drawing to claim the prize. Illinois Lottery officials encourage the ticket holder to sign the back of the winning ticket immediately and keep it in a secure location until they are ready to claim.
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 9:59 p.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers statewide or online via the Illinois Lottery website and mobile app. Powerball tickets cost $2 per play, with the optional Power Play® available for an additional $1, offering the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
About the Illinois Lottery
The Illinois Lottery, founded in 1974, has contributed over $26 billion to the State’s Common School Fund in support of K-12 public education in Illinois since 1985. The Common School Fund is the Illinois Lottery’s primary beneficiary, receiving nearly 99% of Illinois Lottery proceeds. The Illinois Lottery also supports various specialty causes as described in the Illinois Lottery Law (20 ILCS 1605/21.4). For more information about the Illinois Lottery and the causes we support, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.
