A lucky person from North Carolina has won the first Powerball jackpot of 2026, estimated at $209 million.
The winner will have the option of receiving an annuity of $209.3 million or a lump sum of $95.3 million, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL).
The jackpot was reset to $20 million after a person, who has not yet been identified, won the jackpot during the drawing on Wednesday night, Jan. 21, according to the Powerball website.
It’s been almost a month since an Arkansas man won the $1.8 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, the second largest jackpot in Powerball history. The ticket was sold in Cabot, Arkansas, about 30 miles from Little Rock.
Under Arkansas law, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize in person, with the deadline set for June 22.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Powerball win.
Powerball Nation: Here’s how much Americans spend on the lottery
Who won the Powerball jackpot?
It was not immediately known who won the Powerball jackpot or where the winning ticket was purchased.
However, the prize winner may remain anonymous under certain conditions.
Winner’s name, city, county and prize amount won are considered public record unless the winner can present a protective order or Address Privacy Program authorization card, according to NCEL.
Powerball tickets at Jack’s Country Maid Deli in Wilmington in May 2022.
What were the January 21 Powerball winning numbers?
The winning numbers for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing were: 11, 26, 27, 53, 55. Powerball it was 12. The power play was 2x.
Top 10 Powerball Jackpots
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$2.040 billion on November 7, 2022 in California
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$1.817 billion on December 24, 2025, in Arkansas
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$1.787 billion on September 6, 2025 in Missouri, Texas
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$1.765 billion on October 11, 2023 in California
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$1.586 billion on January 13, 2016, in California, Florida and Tennessee
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$1.326 billion on April 6, 2024, in Oregon
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$1.080 billion on July 19, 2023 in California
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$842.4 million on January 1, 2024, in Michigan
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$768.4 million on March 27, 2019 in Wisconsin
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$758.7 million on August 23, 2017 in Massachusetts
Do you have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?
The short answer is no, you do not have to be a US citizen or US resident to play Powerball. When visiting one of the 45 states where Powerball is available for play, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, anyone, regardless of nationality, can purchase lottery tickets from an authorized and licensed retailer if they meet the legal age requirements at the time of purchase – usually 18 years old.
How to play Powerball
Powerball tickets cost $2 per game and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Tickets are sold at various locations including local shops, gas stations and grocery stores. In some states, Powerball tickets can be purchased online.
Once you have the ticket, you have to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls numbered from 1 to 69. The red Powerball ranges from 1 to 26. People can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. The “Power Play” multiplier can multiply winnings by: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x.
If you want a computer to pick the numbers, a “Speed Dial” option is available. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.
Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. If no one wins the jackpot, the prize money will continue to grow.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Can you get Powerball tickets online?
You can also order tickets online via Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Networkin these US states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington DC and West Virginia.
The Jackpocket app allows you to choose your lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket and collect your winnings using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for referring the public to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. It is not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visitjackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
Julia Gomez is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY and covers science studies, natural disasters and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, XInstagram and TikTok: @juliamaigz or email jgomez@hannett.com.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball jackpot winner revealed, lucky ticket sold in North Carolina