The winner has decided to stay anonymous, but told the lottery, "I initially didn't believe I had won, so I called a family member to confirm it. Even after claiming the prize, I'm still processing the news and experiencing the full range of emotions that come with winning a billion-dollar jackpot - from disbelief and shock to overwhelming elation."
The winner has opted to take the lump sum payment.
The winning ticket for the $1.04 billion jackpot was purchased at Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh, 310 N. 36th St. in Quincy, for the August 12 Powerball drawing. The winning numbers were 4, 26, 66, 67, 69 and red Powerball 9. The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
The prize is the second largest ever won in Illinois.