The $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot , the largest lottery prize in history , will be split at least three ways.
The winning tickets were sold in Chino Hills, California; Munford, Tennessee; and in Melbourne Beach, Florida. Powerball players spent an estimated $2.6 billion on tickets since the last jackpot was claimed in November. To win the grand prize, the ticket must match all five numbers (in any order) and the red Powerball number.
Albir Atwal, owner of the 7-Eleven franchise in Chino Hills that sold one winning ticket, said it was “very exciting.”I didn’t expect this big crowd but my Chino Hills customers love me, and I love them,” he said. Atwal, who has owned the store for 24 years, will receive a $1 million bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The winning ticket in Florida was sold at a Publix Supermarket.
Leading into Wednesday, there had been 19 consecutive Powerball drawings with no winner. As ticket sales soared, so did the jackpot’s value. Two weeks ago the grand prize was a mere $400 million. Congratulations to the winners.
