The state of Texas practically was turned on its head last week after nearly three-months of no winners, on the Powerball drawing hit its third-largest jackpot amount in history. Folks raced to convenience stores for a chance at newfound wealth. And on Saturday, September 6 not one — but two — people's lives changed.
One of those lucky players hailed from Missouri, while the other purchased their ticket here in the San Antonio-area. Here in the Lone Star State, the winning card was purchased at a Big's Convenience Store, located at 103 11905 E. US Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624.
Rumors have been swirling that the customer, who snagged the ticket to a new lifestyle just an hour away from the Alamo City, is none other than a University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) student. An Instagram post from the official affiliate of media company Barstool Sports voiced the claim in on Sunday, September 8, and included a screenshot of an iPhone with five of the winning figures on display. MySA could not independently confirm the photos authenticity.
The numbers from the September 7 drawing were 11-23-44-61-62 with the Red Powerball number of 17. The power play number was 2. In the Instagram screenshot published by Barstool Longhorn, all numbers except the power play amount appear clear as day.
"What are you buying first with 1.8 Billion?" the affiliate captioned the post, alongside a video of UT Austin students screaming, cheering and jumping for joy, allegedly at the sight of the winning ticket. It all feels very Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Folks weren't as supportive of their glee in the comments.
"Telling all those people was his first mistake," Wisconsin native Michael Schafer wrote below the post.
The Texas Lottery has not said which city the citizen who won the ticket is from, but it typically does in the days after a grand prize-bearing lottery ticket is verified. The most recent news release from the company says the local winner has not yet come forward to claim the prize. They have 180 days to do so.
However, the commission's website also notes that Powerball cards worth over $1 million were sold at retailers in Austin ($1 million), Tyler ($1 million), Midlothian (42 million), and, of course Fredericksburg ($1.8 billion), so it is possible the Longhorn student may have gotten their hands on it.
MySA contacted UT Austin to confirm whether a student had won the Powerball. A university spokesperson responded that they "would not have firsthand knowledge of anything like that." If the college attendee did win a prize, they likely did not the get the full jackpot amount. This is because the winner did not do a "quick-pick," they chose the numbers themselves, a company news release confirms.
"Each ticket holder will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $893.5 million or a lump sum payment of $410.3 million," Powerball officials said in a news release. "Both prize options are before taxes. If a winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year."
To many, the multi-million dollar difference doesn't really matter. It's still a major payout that could get you through the upcoming holidays, not to mention the rest of your years.
"This makes me hate UT (Austin) more," Oklahoma native Ayla Fetters commented on the Instagram post.
"Bro better sign that ticket immediately before it comes up missing," another warned.
Where in Texas was the winning Powerball ticket sold?
The winning Powerball ticket in Texas was purchased at a Big's Convenience Store, located at 103 11905 E. US Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624.
Fredericksburg is approximately 70 miles north of San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country.