A Powerball player has claimed the largest jackpot in the game's history, amounting to $1.04 billion, after purchasing a ticket for just $2. The winner, confirmed by the Illinois Lottery on September 15, is the sole person to have won the prize, which ranks as the eighth-largest in Powerball history. The win came a month after the August 12 drawing, and the winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, described their initial reaction as one of disbelief and shock. They said they called a family member to confirm the win and expressed that even after claiming the prize, they were still processing the news, experiencing a mix of emotions including disbelief, shock, and overwhelming joy. The winner selected their numbers using the Quick Pick option, which randomly generates a set of numbers, and spent only $2 on a single line of Powerball numbers. They expressed that they could not have imagined that such a small purchase would lead to such a massive jackpot. The winner called the win a "blessing" and expressed gratitude for the unexpected opportunity. While the full jackpot would be paid out over 29 years, the winner opted for a lump-sum payment of approximately $450.5 million. However, this amount is subject to a 24 percent federal withholding, and the winner may also face additional taxes, including a 4.95 percent state tax from Illinois, according to Forbes. The winning ticket was purchased at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh convenience store in Quincy, Illinois, ahead of the August 12 drawing. The store received a $500,000 bonus from the Illinois Lottery for selling the winning ticket. The numbers chosen by the anonymous winner were 4, 26, 66, 67, and 69, with the red Powerball number being 9. The odds of winning the Powerball grand prize are 1 in 292,201,338, according to the Powerball website, highlighting how rare such a win is.