A Single Winning Ticket Hit the Powerball Jackpot for $2.04 Billion /Conspiracy Theories

Credit: Warren-Pender via iStock by Getty Images

You’ve probably heard, but the Powerball drawing finally happened yesterday after a long delay. And no, you didn’t win . . .

It was supposed to happen Monday night. But one state still hadn’t confirmed their sales, which has to happen first.

The winning numbers were finally announced 10 hours later. And a single ticket sold in California hit the $2 BILLION jackpot. (The winning numbers were 10, 33, 41, 47, 56, and the Powerball was 10.)

It was sold at a place called Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, just north of L.A. The California Lottery announced it on Twitter and said it’s the first time they’ve ever made someone a BILLIONAIRE. (Here’s the tweet.)

If the winner opts for the lump sum though, that’s technically not true. The estimated jackpot of $1.9 billion ballooned to $2.04 billion before ticket sales ended. But the lump sum would be $997.6 million. So, NOT a billionaire.

23 people in 16 states matched five numbers, good for a million bucks. One of them in Florida gets $2 million, because they did the “Power Play” option that doubles your prize.

The owner of Joe’s also got a million bucks for selling the winning ticket. Lottery officials gave him his giant check yesterday. (Here’s a video.)

If you’re still SHOCKED you didn’t win this time, don’t worry. There’s a fresh Powerball drawing tonight . . . worth an estimated $20 million.

(CNN / NY Times)

The Powerball reached a record-breaking $2.04 billion and a winner was finally announced Tuesday. The winning ticket was in California. However, there are now conspiracy theories floating around the internet that the whole thing is rigged.

… California announced a delay in the Powerball on Monday evening “for security reasons.” Then the winning ticket came from California. A number of people on social media posted things like this: “So let me get this straight… California announces delay in Powerball for security reasons. Drawing takes place. It is then announced there is no winner and Jackpot win increase. Wait, no. There’s a winner in…CALIFORNIA!

… Another post: “How ironic that the state of California caused an almost 10 hour delay in the Powerball drawing, but there’s now one winner….from CALIFORNIA”