INDIANAPOLIS— More than three decades after selling the very first Powerball® jackpot-winning ticket in 1992, the Hoosier Lottery celebrated its record-setting 40th Powerball® jackpot winner when a La Porte resident claimed their share of the $143 million prize at the Hoosier Lottery’s Prize Payment office in Indianapolis.
While 19 other Hoosier Lottery players won $1 million or $2 million by matching all five white balls in the historic April 29 drawing, this winner also matched the red Powerball to win the jackpot. A player in Kansas matched all six numbers as well, so the $143 million jackpot was split, with each winner receiving $71.7 million.
The winner, a longtime Hoosier Lottery player, claimed the prize as an LLC.
”Indiana’s connection to Powerball began with the game’s very first jackpot winner in 1992 and more than three decades later, we’re still making history,” said Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah M. Taylor. “The April 29 drawing produced our record-setting 40th Powerball jackpot winner, along with 19 additional millionaires. With this claim, we’ve had the privilege of celebrating each Champion of Play and closing out Indiana’s Millionaire Moment.”
The winning ticket was sold at Al’s Supermarket, located at 702 E. Lincolnway in La Porte. A regular customer of Al’s, the winner purchased her winning Powerball ticket while grocery shopping. When filling out a playslip for the April 29 drawing, she simply chose numbers that were in a vertical line on the playslip.
A few days after the drawing, she remembered the Powerball tickets she purchased for Wednesday night. She was sitting in her car in her driveway at the time and pulled the tickets out of her purse to check them. As she did that, one of the tickets flew out the open car window. She started to reach for the car door to retrieve it when she noticed that the numbers on the ticket still in her hand looked like the winning numbers. She paused and looked again.
The ticket that flew out the window was completely forgotten because the one in her hand matched all six winning numbers.
“I was numb,” she recalled about the moment she realized she won the jackpot. “I was just speechless, in disbelief.”
The winner accepted a lump sum cash payout option of $32,603,357.68 and plans to carefully invest the prize money. An avid Chicago Bears fan, she may use some of her winnings to attend a few Bears games next season. She says she hasn’t decided yet whether she will continue working or retire. One thing she is sure about, though, is that she’s finally going to take her dream vacation to Alaska.
By selling the winning Powerball jackpot ticket, Al’s Supermarket will receive $100,000.
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, July 1, is an estimated $375 million.
Powerball® Overall Odds are 1 in 25.
Must be 18 or older to play. Please play responsibly. Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-994-8448.
ABOUT THE HOOSIER LOTTERY: For more than 35 years, the Hoosier Lottery has championed play and the power of it to do more: for players, communities and the state of Indiana. Hoosier Lottery distributions have benefited every county throughout Indiana. The Hoosier Lottery has contributed $8.1 billion to good causes, including $30 million to local police and firefighters’ pensions and $30 million to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund annually. The Hoosier Lottery has earned World Lottery Association Level 4 Certification for achieving the highest level of responsible gaming. To learn more about the Hoosier Lottery, visit HoosierLottery.com/GivingBack and follow on Facebook, Instagram and X. Download Hoosier Lottery logos here and download B-roll here.