A lucky soul in Michigan hit the nearly $842 million Powerball jackpot on New Year's Day, a handful of Georgia residents have also found themselves in good fortune. According to Atlanta News First, Georgia Lottery confirmed that two tickets in the state won $150,000 each, and three tickets brought $50,000 each to their holders. The celebratory numbers drawn were 12, 21, 42, 44, 49 and 1, marking the first jackpot win on a New Year's day since Powerball's 1992 commencement.
Amid the exuberance for the winners, the jackpot originally estimated at $810 million, ballooned to $842.4 million by the draw due to robust ticket sales, reported FOX5 Atlanta. The windfall ranks as the tenth-largest in U.S. lottery history, and if taken as a cash lump sum, the jackpot's value stands at a stout $425.2 million.
Not all was for chasing the dream of boundless wealth. The Georgia Lottery highlights the philanthropic side of this frenzy of numbers and chance, pointing out that money spent on lottery tickets also feeds into the state's education fund. "If you are feeling disappointed about not winning, keep in mind that the money spent benefits the education fund in Georgia," FOX5 Atlanta noted. Last year, the Georgia lottery generated $1.516 billion for education, contributing to over $27 billion since its inception.
The rest of the Powerball income distribution is as follows: the lion's share goes back to players in prizes, amounting to $3.85 billion. Retailers earned commissions of $320.5 million, and vendor fees summed to $191 million, while operating expenses were maintained at $57 million. The Georgia lottery boasts the creation of almost 1,400 millionaires to date. The single payment cash value for Monday night's jackpot was $408.9 million, alternatively, the winner could select the annuity option — 30 payments spread over 29 years.
