In a stroke of incredible luck, a Powerball player in Southern California has secured the $1 billion jackpot prize, putting an end to a streak of 38 consecutive drawings without a grand prize

winner.

This momentous win marks only the third time in Powerball's history that the jackpot has reached the $1 billion milestone. To claim the jackpot, the winner must match all six of the drawn numbers. The winning numbers for Wednesday night's draw were 7, 10, 11, 13, 24, and the red Powerball 24.

The ticket that changed the winner's life was purchased at Las Palmitas Mini Market in downtown Los Angeles, as confirmed by lottery officials.

Although the winner has not yet come forward, they have a full year to claim their prize. Once the claim is filed, the agency will conduct an investigation to verify the legitimacy of the winner, a process that may take several months, explained spokeswoman Carolyn Becker.

The fortunate winner now faces a decision: they can either opt for a cash payout of $558.1 million or choose to receive the estimated $1 billion prize, before taxes, in 29 annual installments.

Beyond the jackpot win, 36 other tickets sold nationwide won million-dollar prizes, while an additional three secured $2 million prizes, according to the Powerball website.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot stand at around one in 292 million, underscoring the rarity and significance of this remarkable victory.

With the jackpot claimed, the prize will reset to a starting amount of $20 million, inviting new dreams and hopes for Powerball enthusiasts across the country. Photo by Billion-Dollar US Powerball Jackpot Claimed by Lucky Winner in California, Wikimedia commons.