One very lucky man beat the odds and won the Powerball jackpot.
According to the Powerball website, a lucky person in Arkansas won the $251 million jackpot after purchasing a winning ticket that matched all five numbers drawn and the Powerball after the Monday, March 2 drawing.
Once winners claim their prize, they can choose to receive an annuity payment or receive a lump sum of $118 million. So far, no one has claimed the grand prize.
According to lottery officials, the Powerball jackpot has been won nearly 200 times since the game began in 1992. Today, 45 U.S. states, including Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C.,and the U.S. Virgin Islands entered the lottery, and five states opted out: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
However, some states have better luck than others. Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin round out the top five states in terms of Powerball winners, according to previous reporting by USA Today.
Here’s what you need to know about Powerball wins.
Powerball March 2 drawing: View winning numbers
What were the winning numbers for the March 2 Powerball?
The winning numbers for the March 2 Powerball drawing were: 2, 17, 18, 38, 62, Powerball is 20. The “power play” multiplier is 2x.
Has anyone won the Powerball jackpot?
Yes, one lucky person in Arkansas won the Powerball jackpot, while another lucky person in Puerto Rico won the Match 5 + Power Play $2 million prize.
The Powerball jackpot has been reset to $20 million ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing.
When is the next Powerball drawing?
The next drawing will be Wednesday, March 4th at 11pm ET.
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.
Anyone traveling to one of the 45 participating states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can purchase a Powerball ticket, regardless of nationality. The only catch is that you must meet the legal age requirement at the time of purchase (usually 18) and buy your tickets from a licensed retailer.
Top 10 Powerball jackpots
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November 7, 2022, California, $2.04 billion
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December 24, 2025, Arkansas, $1.817 billion
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September 6, 2025, Missouri and Texas, $1.787 billion
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October 11, 2023, California, $1.765 billion
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January 13, 2016, California, Florida, and Tennessee, $1.586 billion
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April 6, 2024, Oregon, $1.326 billion
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July 19, 2023, California, $1.08 billion
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January 1, 2024, Michigan, $842.4 million
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March 27, 2019, Wisconsin, $768.4 million
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August 23, 2017, Massachusetts, $758.7 million
How to play Powerball
Powerball tickets cost $2 per game. You can buy it at most convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores. In some states, tickets may also be purchased online, depending on local rules.
After you get your ticket, you will choose six numbers. Five are white balls, numbered 1 to 69, and the sixth is a red power ball, numbered 1 to 26.
For an additional $1, players can add Power Play, which increases the winnings of all non-jackpot winnings. Multipliers can increase winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or even 10x.
Don’t want to choose your own number? The Quick Select option lets the computer choose for you.
To win the jackpot, you must match all five white balls (in any order) and the red Powerball.
Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If no one hits the jackpot, the jackpot keeps rolling and keeps climbing.
Julia Gomez is a popular reporter for USA TODAY, covering popular toys, scientific research, natural disasters, holidays 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 announced, winning ticket sold in Arkansas
