The ticket holder from Missouri who won a portion of Powerball’s record-breaking $1.78 billion jackpot described himself as a “homebody,” stating that this incredible windfall has presented him with the “best problem” he has ever encountered.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, picked up his life-transforming reward—a one-time payment of approximately $410.3 million—at the lottery headquarters in Jefferson City, just two weeks after being named Missouri’s wealthiest winner.
He expressed that the reality of his new wealth has yet to fully hit him.
“I’m really a homebody. My ideal day is just lounging at home doing what I like—relaxing,” he mentioned. “Here I am, a multimillionaire, and I’m doing laundry last night…”
Under Missouri law, lottery winners can remain anonymous, meaning he may never reveal his identity.
The jackpot-winning ticket was purchased for the historic September 6 drawing at a QuikTrip convenience store in St. Louis, with the winning numbers being 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and the Powerball number 17.
Despite the thrill of winning, the married man admitted it has also led to some restless nights.
“It’s the best problem I’ve ever had,” he said.
Regarding future plans, he stated that he and his wife plan on focusing on themselves for the first year.
“I’m going to just focus on myself for a year,” he stated.
The winner revealed that the winnings would help reduce his wife’s workload and grant them more precious time together.
“She is going to make sure I get out of town now,” he joked.
Although he must share the record-setting jackpot with another individual in Texas, his share—valued at $893.5 million—still stands as the largest lottery payout ever received in Missouri.
He had the option to choose the complete $893.5 million jackpot paid over 30 annual installments or accept a single lump sum payment.
“That night set a record for the Missouri Lottery, as the $893.5 million prize is now the largest jackpot ever won in Missouri,” said Missouri Lottery executive director Lester Elder.
“This surpasses the former record of $293.7 million won in a Powerball drawing back in November 2012.”
The likelihood of winning any prize in Powerball is 1 in 24.9 million, while the odds of hitting the jackpot stand at 1 in 292.2 million.
In 2025, there have been four winning Powerball jackpots; the next nearest jackpot was snagged by a ticket holder who won $204.5 million in California on May 31.
This year has also seen three other big winners: a $167 million ticket in Kentucky on April 26, a $526.5 million ticket in California on March 29, and a $328.5 million winner in Oregon on January 18.
Of the five largest Powerball jackpot winners, only three have come forward publicly.
Edwin Castro from California holds the record for the largest Powerball win ever, taking home the $2.04 billion jackpot on November 7, 2022, opting for a payout of $997.6 million.
In March 2024, Theodorus Struyck, also from California, emerged to represent a group that won a $1.765 billion jackpot purchased at a Midway Market & Liquor store in Frazier Park, California.
A limited liability company claimed a $1.6 billion jackpot won in August 2023, choosing to receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $794,248,882.
The three winners of the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot, totaling $1.59 billion, revealed themselves in 2016 but opted to stay anonymous.
