Ticket worth $149.4 million sold in Anoka County

One of three winning jackpot tickets for last night’s Powerball drawing was purchased in Minnesota. The ticket was sold in Anoka County. The ticket is worth $149.4 million if the winner or winners selects the 30-year annuity option, or $86 million the cash option is selected.

The other two winning tickets were sold in New Jersey. The $448.4 million jackpot is the third largest in Powerball history.

“This is the 22nd time Minnesota has had a Powerball jackpot winner,” said Lottery Director Ed Van Petten. “We’re thrilled that a ticket sold in Minnesota won a share of this jackpot.”

The holder of the jackpot ticket should sign the back of the ticket immediately. The ticket should be put in a safe place and the winner should call the Lottery’s Public Relations department at 651-635-8271 to make arrangements for validation.

The ticket holder has one year from the date of the drawing to claim the prize. After the winner comes forward, he or she has 60 days to choose the annuity payment of $149.4 million or the cash option of $86 million ($58.3 million after tax withholding). The annual payment of the 30-year annuity increases by 4 percent each year. The first payment (before taxes) is estimated to be $2.6 million, with an estimated payment of $8.3 million in year 30. (A final payment schedule will be determined after the annuity is actually purchased.)

The winner(s) will receive the first payment about two weeks after the ticket is redeemed at Lottery headquarters in Roseville.

This is Minnesota’s 22nd Powerball jackpot winner since Powerball began in 1992. August is a lucky month for Minnesota Powerball players—the last Powerball jackpot in Minnesota was won on Aug. 10, 2011. Minnesota has also had six jackpot winners of Lotto America, Powerball’s predecessor.