The winning Powerball ticket for the October 29, 2022 drawing worth $731.1 million was sold in Allegany County, Maryland. The specific retail location where the ticket was purchased has not been publicly identified yet.
Key Details About the Winning Ticket
- The winning numbers for the $731.1 million jackpot were 40, 53, 60, 68, 69, and the Powerball was 22.
- The jackpot winner matched all 6 numbers to win the grand prize, which had a cash value of $546.8 million.
- The winning ticket was sold somewhere in Allegany County, Maryland.
- The winner has not yet come forward to claim the prize.
- This was the first Powerball jackpot win in Maryland since 2011.
Top Prize is One of the Largest in U.S. Lottery History
The $731.1 million jackpot is the fifth-largest Powerball prize on record and the eighth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever.
Here are the top 10 largest lottery jackpots in U.S. history:
| Rank | Amount | Game | Date Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.586 billion | Powerball | 1/13/2016 |
| 2 | $1.537 billion | Mega Millions | 10/23/2018 |
| 3 | $1.05 billion | Mega Millions | 1/22/2021 |
| 4 | $768.4 million | Powerball | 3/27/2019 |
| 5 | $731.1 million | Powerball | 10/29/2022 |
| 6 | $699.8 million | Powerball | 10/4/2021 |
| 7 | $687.8 million | Powerball | 10/27/2018 |
| 8 | $656 million | Mega Millions | 3/30/2012 |
| 9 | $648 million | Mega Millions | 12/17/2013 |
| 10 | $590.5 million | Powerball | 5/18/2013 |
As the data shows, the recent Maryland winner has clinched the fifth largest lottery prize in American history at an astonishing $731.1 million.
Winning Ticket was Sold in Allegany County
Allegany County is located in western Maryland and has a population of around 72,000 residents. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metro Area.
Here are some key facts about Allegany County:
- County seat is Cumberland, MD
- Bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and West Virginia to the south
- Home to Frostburg State University
- Major industries include healthcare, retail, manufacturing
- Median household income of $44,140
- 14% of residents live below the poverty line
The Maryland Lottery has not yet revealed where exactly the winning ticket was sold other than disclosing it came from somewhere in Allegany County. Once the winner comes forward, more details may be released about the specific retail location.
One Maryland Resident Now $731 Million Richer Overnight
By matching all 6 numbers in the October 29th drawing, one very lucky Marylander has become almost three quarters of a billion dollars richer overnight.
The state of Maryland will also benefit greatly from this jackpot win, collecting millions in tax revenue.
Here’s a breakdown of the pre-tax and after-tax earnings for this $731.1 million jackpot:
| Prize Breakdown | Amount |
|---|---|
| Advertised Jackpot | $731.1 million |
| Cash Value Option | $546.8 million |
| Federal Tax (37%) | – $202.3 million |
| Maryland State Tax (8.95%) | – $48.9 million |
| After-Tax Cash Earnings | $295.6 million |
After federal and state taxes are deducted, the holder of the winning ticket will take home an estimated $295.6 million in cash earnings if they select the lump sum payment option. That’s still an absolutely life-changing amount of money for one Maryland resident.
Odds of Winning Jackpot were Incredibly Low
The odds of matching all 6 numbers to win the Powerball jackpot are staggeringly low – 1 in 292.2 million. Here’s a look at the full odds breakdown for different prize levels:
| Prize Level | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Grand Prize | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Match 5 + PB | 1 in 11,688,053.52 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 11,688,054 |
| Match 4 + PB | 1 in 913,129.18 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 36,525.17 |
| Match 3 + PB | 1 in 14,494.11 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 579.76 |
| Match 2 + PB | 1 in 701.33 |
| Match 1 + PB | 1 in 91.98 |
| Match 0 + PB | 1 in 38.32 |
Beating odds of 1 in 292 million is incredibly difficult, so Maryland Lottery officials are likely waiting with bated breath for the Allegany County winner to come forward and claim their prize. Having a jackpot winner from the state will certainly create major buzz and excitement.
How the Jackpot Climbed So High
The Powerball jackpot rolled over 40 times without a grand prize winner before reaching the epic $731.1 million amount. This stretch of rollovers allowed the advertised prize to grow steadily for months and create huge anticipation.
The jackpot started at $20 million for the August 6th drawing and wasn’t hit for 38 consecutive draws. Smaller prizes worth $1 million to $2 million were won during this roll streak, but the grand prize avoided getting claimed.
Some key reasons why the jackpot was able to increase so substantially:
- No ticket matched all 6 numbers during the 38-draw roll.
- Strong Powerball ticket sales across participating states.
- Rollovers increase the jackpot by at least $10 million each draw.
- Publicity surrounding the record jackpot drove more ticket sales.
Once the jackpot eclipsed the $700 million mark, lottery fever spread like wildfire. People across the country were eager to try their luck at winning such an enormous prize.
Maryland Lottery Will Wait for Winner to Come Forward
Maryland Lottery officials have said the winner has 182 days from the draw date to claim their $731.1 million prize before it expires. This gives the ticketholder over 6 months to consult with financial advisors and attorneys before coming forward.
It’s likely they are taking time to assemble a team of professionals, such as lawyers, accountants and investment advisors, to help them manage their sudden influx of wealth responsibly. Remaining anonymous through a trust is also an option the winner may be considering.
Until the winner initiates the prize claim process, Maryland Lottery officials cannot reveal any information about their identity per state law. All they can confirm is that a ticket purchased in Allegany County matched all 6 numbers from the October 29th draw.
Once the claim is made, one or two press conferences are typically held to introduce the winner to the public. But their name and hometown can remain confidential if they wish.
State Will Collect Millions in Tax Revenue
In addition to creating a new millionaire, the jackpot win will also generate millions of dollars for state programs and services funded by Maryland’s lottery proceeds.
Based on the 8.95% state tax withholding, the win will produce around $48.9 million in revenue for the state of Maryland from this single prize.
Here’s a look at the key beneficiaries of Maryland lottery funds:
- Education – Teacher salaries, school construction, textbooks, special education
- Health and Human Services – Community health programs, addiction treatment
- Public Safety – First responders, police recruitment, victim services
- Environment – Bay restoration, open space preservation, clean water initiatives
- Small Business – Minority business development, entrepreneur training
This influx of nearly $50 million to state programs funded by the Maryland Lottery will have a big impact. It’s a very welcome windfall from the state’s perspective.
Retailer Who Sold Winner Also Gets Big Bonus
The retailer that sold the winning Powerball ticket receives a $100,000 selling bonus from the Maryland Lottery. This lucky store gets a nice financial prize just for being the vendor to sell the jackpot-clinching ticket.
Maryland Lottery officials have not disclosed the retail location yet, but once the winner claims the prize, more details should be revealed.
Given Allegany County’s small population size, speculation is running rampant about which local business may have sold the ticket. Some possible retailers include:
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Convenience stores
- Liquor stores
- Pharmacies
- Small markets
For a smaller establishment, $100,000 could be a very significant windfall. Even larger chain retailers are always thrilled when one of their locations sells a big winning lottery ticket. It creates great publicity and buzz for the business.
Past Winners in Maryland
While monumental, this Powerball jackpot win is not Maryland’s first time producing a mega winner. Here’s a look back at some other major Maryland Lottery prizes over the years:
- August 2021 – $50,000/year prize won with Cash4Life game
- May 2021 – $732.5K Multi-Match jackpot
- January 2021 – $731.1 million Powerball jackpot shared with winner in Wisconsin
- September 2018 – $50,000/year prize won with Cash4Life game
- August 2017 – $1 million Mega Millions prize
- May 2016 – $214.7 million Powerball jackpot
- August 2014 – $207 million Mega Millions jackpot
- March 2012 – $105.7 million Mega Millions jackpot
- September 2011 – $128.8 million Powerball jackpot
Maryland has produced several huge lottery winners over the past decade. But this latest $731.1 Powerball jackpot ranks as the state’s second largest lottery prize ever.
Conclusion
The $731.1 million Powerball jackpot won in the October 29, 2022 drawing was sold at a retailer somewhere in Allegany County, Maryland. This marks the second largest Maryland Lottery win in state history. While the winner remains a mystery for now, they are likely consulting with advisors before coming forward to claim the prize. This monumental jackpot, which has an after-tax cash value of $295.6 million, will be life changing for one very fortunate Maryland resident. It will also generate millions in tax revenue to support key state programs and services. For its role in selling the historic winning ticket, the retailer will receive a $100,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery. As residents buzz with excitement over this record win, all eyes will remain on Allegany County in the coming weeks until the winner initiates the prize claim process and is introduced publicly.
