2 tickets -- sold in Missouri, Texas -- win massive $1.8B Powerball jackpot

In Missouri and Texas, two lucky Powerball players shared the second-largest prize ever given in the game's history, a massive jackpot of 1.8 billion dollars. The winning drawing took place on September 6, 2025, ending a long streak of rollovers that had captured national attention and created excitement among millions of lottery participants across the United States.

The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and the red Powerball 17, with a Power Play multiplier of two. Each of the winning ticket holders now faces a life changing decision between receiving a lump sum cash payout of more than 410 million dollars before taxes or choosing an annuity option that would provide nearly 900 million dollars spread out over three decades. The choice is significant because the lump sum offers immediate wealth while the annuity provides security through annual payments that gradually increase over time.

This record setting prize marked the end of forty two consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, a streak that had driven the prize pool higher and higher with each passing week. Lottery officials noted that this surge in the jackpot drew in millions of players who were eager to try their luck at one of the largest jackpots in American history. In point of fact, the drawing resulted in the awarding of prizes ranging from a few dollars to a million dollars to more than nine point nine million tickets. Eighteen tickets matched five white balls to win one million dollars each, while two tickets doubled their prize to two million dollars thanks to the Power Play feature.

In Texas, the winning jackpot ticket was sold at a convenience store called Big’s 103 in the town of Fredericksburg, a small community northwest of San Antonio that is suddenly in the spotlight. The location of the winning ticket in Missouri has not yet been revealed, but anticipation is building as residents wait to learn where the golden slip was purchased.

The Powerball lottery is played in forty five states as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Islands of the Virgin Drawings occur three nights a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Tickets cost two dollars, with optional features like Power Play and Double Play offering chances to multiply or extend winnings. Despite the massive jackpots, the odds of winning remain extraordinarily steep at roughly one in two hundred ninety two million. During periods when there haven't been any winners, the long odds make it possible for the jackpot to rise to eye-watering heights. The latest windfall ranks just behind the record breaking two point zero four billion dollar jackpot that was claimed in California in November 2022. Still, the one point eight billion dollar prize is monumental and has cemented this drawing in the annals of lottery history.

Experts caution that winners of such enormous sums face unique challenges along with opportunities. The sudden influx of wealth can create complications around taxation, financial planning, and personal security. Some states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous while others require disclosure of names and locations. In Texas, winners must make certain choices about payout methods before buying the ticket, while in Missouri the decision is finalized after the win. Regardless, both winners will soon find themselves in need of legal and financial advice as they navigate the complexities of managing hundreds of millions of dollars.

Powerball proceeds are not just about personal fortunes. A significant portion of every ticket sold is returned to the state in which it was purchased, supporting education, infrastructure, and other public programs. This means that the frenzy for tickets also benefits local communities, creating a ripple effect beyond the winners themselves.

For millions of Americans, the allure of the lottery lies in the dream of overnight transformation. While only two tickets carried the winning combination this time, countless others shared in the excitement, the smaller prizes, and the sense of possibility. The tales of the winners in Missouri and Texas will now be added to the growing list of storied jackpots that captivate people's imaginations and instill the belief that anyone, regardless of the odds, can become a billionaire with the right set of numbers.