Lucky Powerball player wins lottery with an enormous $478million jackpot in Georgia
A Georgia Powerball player is the lucky winner of a whopping $478 million jackpot.
A Georgia Powerball player is the lucky winner of a whopping $478 million jackpot.
The Georgia lottery confirmed an unidentified Powerball player in the Peach State matched all winning numbers drawn on October 23.
The winning numbers were 2, 15, 27, 29, 39 and red Powerball 20.
Lottery officials announced the winning ticket was purchased in Buford, but they did not reveal the exact location of the purchase.
The winning Powerball player is the first Georgia winner of the lottery jackpot in nearly a decade.
An unidentified Georgia Powerball player won the $478 million jackpot on October 23
Like all Powerball players, the Georgia winner was required to select five numbers between one and 69 and a Powerball number from one to 26.
Powerball players can also play on the Georgia Lottery website and can choose their numbers randomly if they select Quik Pik.
All Georgia participants have the option to increase their potential prizes for $1 or more per play by selecting the Power Play option.
The Power Play option usually increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes.
However, according to Georgias Powerball rules, an all-five white ball winner will automatically win $2 million with Power Play, even if the red Powerball number is not the winning digit.
The Georgia Lottery confirmed the unidentified winner did have a 2X Power Play.
Unfortunately, because the winners base number was the jackpot, the Power Play was not applied to the earnings.
Their odds of taking home the grand prize was one in 292,201,338 - much different from other potential Georgia Powerball winners.
(Stock image only) The Georgia lottery confirmed the winner bought his ticket in Buford, but they did not reveal the exact store location
The lucky Powerball winners ticket is valid for 180 days after the draw date.
Lottery officials require winners of a prize of more than $600 in Georgia to claim prizes at its Atlanta headquarters or any other district offices.
Winners of jackpots over the amount of $250,000 have the option to keep their names anonymous.
The winner can either take home the $478 million paid out over the next 29 years or a one-time sum of about $230 million.
No matter the decision, the Georgia Powerball winner will generally be paid within five to 10 business days from the date of the claim and be electronically deposited into their bank accounts.
The total jackpot will likely decrease after the government applies state withholdings and state and federal income taxes, according to the Georgia Lottery website.
The lucky Powerball winners ticket is valid for 180 days after the draw date
After prize collection, the state of Georgia will apply its 5.39 percent income tax and a 24 percent federal income tax to the jackpot.
The Georgia Lottery Corporation will also check for and take away money for outstanding child support payments for prizes starting at $2,500 and student loans and state taxes for winners taking home $5,000 or more on the lottery.
These taxes also apply to annuity payments, but the winnings will increase by five percent every year, according to the Powerball website.
If the Georgia winner doesnt claim their $478 million jackpot before their deadline, money will be donated to help fund the HOPE and Pre-K programs.
The lottery will also donate $200,000 of the earnings to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for education and treatment programs for gambling addictions.
