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

A lucky person in North Carolina has won the first Powerball jackpot of 2026, worth an estimated $209 million.

The winner can choose to receive an annuity of $209.3 million or a one-time payment of $95.3 million, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL).

The jackpot has since been reset to $20 million after an unidentified person won the jackpot in the Wednesday night drawing on January 21, according to the Powerball website.

It’s been nearly a month since someone in Arkansas won the second-largest $1.8 billion jackpot in Powerball history on Christmas Eve. The ticket was sold in Cabot, Arkansas, about 30 miles from Little Rock.

Under Arkansas law, winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize in person, with a deadline of June 22.

Here’s information about the latest Powerball bonuses.

Powerball countries: This is how much Americans spend on lottery tickets

Who won the Powerball jackpot?

It’s unclear who won the Powerball jackpot or where the winning ticket was purchased.

However, winners may remain anonymous under certain circumstances.

According to NCEL, the winner’s name, city, county and prize amount are considered public records unless the winner can produce a protective order or address confidentiality program authorization card.

What are the winning numbers for the January 21 Powerball?

The winning numbers for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing were: 11, 26, 27, 53, 55. Powerball is 12. power play is 2x.

Top 10 Powerball jackpots

• November 7, 2022, California, $2.04 billion

• December 24, 2025, Arkansas, $1.817 billion

• September 6, 2025 Missouri, Texas, $1.787 billion

• October 11, 2023, California, $1.765 billion

• January 13, 2016, California, Florida, and Tennessee, $1.586 billion

• April 6, 2024, Oregon, $1.326 billion

• July 19, 2023, California, $1.08 billion

• January 1, 2024, Michigan, $842.4 million

• March 27, 2019, Wisconsin, $768.4 million

• August 23, 2017, Massachusetts, $758.7 million

Do you have to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball?

In short, the answer is no, you don’t have to be a US citizen or US resident to play Powerball. When visiting one of the 45 states where Powerball can be played, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, anyone, regardless of nationality, can purchase a lottery ticket from an authorized and licensed retailer, provided they meet the legal age requirement at the time of purchase (usually 18 years of age).

How to play Powerball

Powerball tickets cost $2 per game and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are sold at multiple locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores. In some states, Powerball tickets can be purchased online.

Once you get your ticket, you need to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls, numbered 1 to 69. The red power ball ranges from 1 to 26. People can also add a “power play” for $1, which increases all non-jackpot winnings. The “Power Play” multiplier can multiply winnings by: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x.

If you want the computer to select a number, you can use the Quick Select option. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the red Power Ball in any order.

Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will continue to climb.

The winning lottery numbers were sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Can you buy Powerball tickets online?

You can also book tickets online via the following methods Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Networkin 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, D.C., and West Virginia.

The Jackpocket app allows you to select lottery games and numbers, place your order, view your tickets and claim your winnings, all from your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewers recommending Jackpocket services. Must be 18 years or older, 21 years or older in Arizona, 19 years or older in Northeastern states. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Please call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (New York); 1-800-327-5050 (Massachusetts); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GABLER (all others). accessjackpocket.com/tos Full Terms.

Julia Gomez is a popular reporter for USA TODAY, covering scientific research, natural disasters and breaking news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, XInstagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz or email jgomez@gannett.com.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a popular news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball jackpot winner revealed, lucky ticket sold in North Carolina