<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>One lucky person in North Carolina won the first Powerball jackpot of 2026, an estimated $209 million.</p><p>The winner will have the option to receive an annuity of $209.3 million or a lump-sum payment of $95.3 million, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL).</p><p>The jackpot has reset to $20 million after a person, who has yet to be identified, won the jackpot during the drawing on Wednesday night, Jan. 21, according to Powerball's website.</p><p>It has been almost a month since one person in Arkansas won the $1.8 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, the second-largest jackpot in the history of the Powerball. The ticket was sold in Cabot, Arkansas, about 30 miles from Little Rock.</p><p>According to Arkansas law, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize in person, with the deadline set for June 22.</p><p>Here's what to know about the latest Powerball win.</p><p><span><strong>Powerball Nation: </strong>Here's how much Americans spend on the lottery</span></p><h2>Who won the Powerball jackpot?</h2><p>It is not immediately known who won the Powerball jackpot or where the winning ticket was purchased.</p><p>However, the prize winner could remain anonymous under certain conditions.</p><p>The winner's name, city, county, and the prize amount won are considered public record, unless the winner can produce a protective order or an Address Confidentiality Program authorization card, according to NCEL.</p><figure><div><div><p><span><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/EZ9pnf8atAefdJrBzLwGWQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_money_325/0994c38ee2d5ee5a7bbbb92d44996dc2?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="960" height="640" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/EZ9pnf8atAefdJrBzLwGWQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_money_325/0994c38ee2d5ee5a7bbbb92d44996dc2"/></span></p></div></div><p></p><figcaption>Powerball tickets at Jack's Country Maid Deli in Wilmington in May 2022.</figcaption><p></p></figure><h2>What were the winning numbers for the Jan. 21 Powerball?</h2><p>The winning numbers for Wednesday's Powerball drawing were: <strong>11, 26, 27, 53, 55.</strong> The Powerball was <strong>12</strong>. Power play was <strong>2x</strong>.</p><h2>Top 10 Powerball Jackpots</h2><ul><li>$2.040 billion on Nov. 7, 2022, in California</li><li>$1.817 billion on Dec. 24, 2025, in Arkansas</li><li>$1.787 billion on Sept. 6, 2025, in Missouri, Texas</li><li>$1.765 billion on Oct. 11, 2023, in California</li><li>$1.586 billion on Jan. 13, 2016, in California, Florida and Tennessee</li><li>$1.326 billion on April 6, 2024, in Oregon</li><li>$1.080 billion on July 19, 2023, in California</li><li>$842.4 million on Jan. 1, 2024, in Michigan</li><li>$768.4 million on March 27, 2019, in Wisconsin</li><li>$758.7 million on Aug. 23, 2017, in Massachusetts</li></ul><h2>Do you have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?</h2><p>The short answer is no, you do not have to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident to play Powerball. When visiting one of the 45 states where Powerball is available to play, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, anyone, regardless of nationality, can purchase lottery tickets from an authorized and licensed retailer, if they meet the legal age requirement at the point of purchase − usually 18 years old.</p><h2>How to play Powerball</h2><p>Powerball tickets are $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are sold at various locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores. In some states, Powerball tickets can be purchased online.</p><p>Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69. The red Powerball ranges from 1 to 26. People can also add a &#34;Power Play&#34; for $1, which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. The “Power Play” multiplier can multiply winnings by: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x.</p><p>If you want a computer to select the numbers, a &#34;Quick Pick&#34; option is available. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.</p><p>Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will keep climbing.</p><p>Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.</p><h2>Can you get Powerball tickets online?</h2><p><em>You can also order tickets online through </em><em>Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network</em><em>, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and West Virginia.</em></p><p><em>The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket, and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.</em></p><p><em>Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ, and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit</em><em>jackpocket.com/tos</em><em> for full terms.</em></p><p><em>Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies, natural disasters, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com</em>.</p><p><em>Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.</em></p><p><em>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball jackpot winner unveiled, lucky ticket sold in North Carolina</em></p></div></div>

<p>A North Carolina resident has won the first Powerball jackpot of 2026, totaling approximately $209 million. The winner can choose between an annuity of $209.3 million or a lump sum of $95.3 million. The jackpot has reset to $20 million following this win. The winning numbers for the January 21 drawing were 11, 26, 27, 53, 55, with the Powerball being 12. The winner's identity remains unknown, but they may remain anonymous under certain conditions.</p>

Powerball jackpot winner snags $209M. See where the ticket was sold.