PORTLAND, OR – An Oregonian is waking up a billionaire after the Powerball drawing on Saturday night, despite the event being delayed by over three hours. The delay, due to necessary “pre-draw procedures,” resulted in a jackpot of a staggering $1.33 billion.
The winning combination for the night was 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and the red Powerball 9. The lucky ticket holder now has a decision to make: take the $1.33 billion prize in installments over 29 years or opt for a single payout of $621.1 million.
This is the fourth largest win in the history of the Powerball game and the sixth time an Oregon resident has scooped the grand prize. The last Oregonian to do so was in June 2018, according to the state’s lottery records.
The specifics about the ticket’s purchase location or the identity of the winner are not yet known. However, as per Oregon law, the winner’s name will be made public. The newly minted billionaire has 60 days to claim their winnings.
The delay in the drawing was due to a participating lottery needing extra time to complete the required pre-draw procedures. These measures are in place to maintain the integrity and security of the Powerball game. Each ticket sold across the country must be cross-checked against two different computer systems before the drawing can take place.
While the delay caused a stir on social media, it’s not an unprecedented occurrence. In November 2022, a 10-hour delay resulted in Edwin Castro becoming the biggest winner in Powerball history, bagging a $2.04 billion prize.
The previous Powerball jackpot was won on New Year’s Day in Michigan, bringing an end to a run of 40 consecutive drawings without a winner. The Michigan resident won a hefty $842 million grand prize, which was the eighth largest in history at the time.