iLottery player snags $1M Powerball prize as weekend jackpot climbs to $295M

CHICAGO — A nearly $300 million Powerball jackpot is up for grabs this weekend, but one lucky Illinois iLottery player is already celebrating after snagging a $1 million prize by matching five numbers in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing.

According to officials from the Illinois Lottery, the big winner purchased the ticket for Wednesday’s drawing through the Illinois Lottery app.

The $2 ticket purchase proved to be a highly lucrative decision after the lucky lotto player matched the numbers 1, 2, 21, 37 and 43, to claim the big prize.

Details about the big win were shared on Friday morning but officials did not disclose the name of the winner.

After taxes, the new money millionaire will take home about $710,500, which equals out to about $240,000 in federal taxes and $49,500 in state taxes, according to the lottery tax calculator from TaxAct.

The iLottery player isn’t the only one in Chicagoland who got to see a hefty return on investment this week, officials said another payer in Indiana also matched five out of five numbers to snag a $1 million prize.

Powerball tickets start at $2 each, but players have the option to add a $1 Powerplay for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes.

Illinois Lottery winners have one year from the date of winning to claim their prizes and the big Powerball payout can come as a one-time cash payment or as 30 annual payments.

The next Powerball drawing will take place on Saturday night and an estimated $295 million jackpot is up for grabs.

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