Single North Carolina ticket wins $209 million Powerball jackpot in Wednesday night drawing
RALEIGH, NC — A lone Powerball ticket sold in North Carolina hit the jackpot on Wednesday night, matching all six numbers to claim the $209 million grand prize — the first major Powerball win of 2026.
The winning numbers drawn were 11, 26, 27, 53, 55 and the red Power Ball 12. The Power Play multiplier was 2. The winner will have the option to receive the full $209 million in annuity payments or take a one-time cash payout estimated at $95.3 million.
The win comes just weeks after a record-breaking $1.817 billion jackpot was won in Arkansas on Christmas Eve. Wednesday’s jackpot marked the culmination of a 12-draw run without a top prize winner.
While the identity of the North Carolina winner has not yet been revealed, lottery officials in the state are urging all players to double-check their tickets and sign the back.
No one won the top prize in the Powerball Double Play drawing, which is a separate draw for players who added the Double Play feature to their ticket. The Double Play numbers drawn Wednesday were 16, 20, 28, 36, 52 and Power Ball 12. The top prize in that drawing is $10 million.
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Key Points
- A single Powerball ticket sold in North Carolina won the $209 million jackpot on Wednesday
- Winning numbers were 11, 26, 27, 53, 55 and Power Ball 12, with a 2x multiplier
- The cash value of the jackpot is approximately $95.3 million
A North Carolina player wakes up a multimillionaire after a $209 million Powerball win.
10 sensational New York Post-style headlines
- North Carolina player hits $209 million Powerball payday
- One ticket takes it all in stunning Powerball jackpot win
- $209 million richer after lucky Powerball numbers align
- Lone winner in North Carolina snags massive lottery prize
- Powerball jackpot struck again just weeks after billion-dollar win
- Dream ticket sold in North Carolina wins nine-figure jackpot
- Powerball fortune lands in the Tar Heel State
- Wednesday night magic makes one player $209 million richer
- One ticket hits all six numbers in $209 million Powerball draw
- North Carolina becomes latest stop for Powerball mega win
New Jersey players claim major prizes in latest Powerball jackpot streak
TRENTON, NJ — As a North Carolina player walked away with a $209 million Powerball jackpot this week, New Jersey Lottery players were also celebrating — with 10 individuals scoring prizes of $50,000 or more during the recent jackpot streak.
Among the Garden State’s biggest winners, a player in Essex County took home $1 million, a Burlington County player won $250,000, and an Ocean County ticket hit for $500,000 during the January 10 draw. The recent 12-draw streak drew significant participation across the state.
These wins come just weeks after a $1.817 billion jackpot was won in Arkansas on Christmas Eve, one of the largest prizes in lottery history. Though New Jersey didn’t produce the top winner this round, its players consistently landed sizable payouts throughout the run.
The Powerball Double Play option, a separate drawing for participating tickets, yielded no top prize winners during Wednesday’s draw. That jackpot remains at $10 million.
New Jersey has a strong history of major Powerball and Mega Millions wins, including a $90 million Powerball win in Union City last month and a $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot in Neptune last year.
Since 1970, the New Jersey Lottery has contributed nearly $34.7 billion to the state, with profits now directed to support the public employee pension system under a 30-year agreement signed in 2017.
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Key Points
- Ten New Jersey players won at least $50,000 during the latest Powerball jackpot streak
- Essex, Burlington, and Ocean County players claimed prizes ranging from $250,000 to $1 million
- New Jersey continues a strong lottery track record with major wins in recent years