Illinois Gas Station Awaits Mystery $1.04 Billion Powerball Winner

A convenience store in Quincy, Illinois has become the center of attention following the sale of Wednesday’s $1.04 billion Powerball winning ticket. Manager Jon Marshall, 47, of the Hy-Vee Gas Fresh & Fast location received the stunning news at 3 a.m. when a fellow gas station manager called to inform him. Marshall said the situation feels “like a murder mystery” as the community waits for the winner to come forward.

Marshall’s first instinct was to check his own Powerball ticket purchased from the same store, hoping he had won. “I better check my ticket before I worry about anything else,” he recalled thinking, though ultimately his ticket was not a winner. As of late Thursday, the ticket holder’s identity remained unknown despite curious residents visiting the store to inquire about the mystery winner.

The store sits in Quincy, a historic community of approximately 39,000 residents along the Mississippi River with what Marshall describes as an “old-school feel.” Most customers are regulars he knows personally, adding to the intrigue of the unclaimed prize. The winning numbers were 4, 26, 66, 67 and 69, with Powerball 9, with odds of winning calculated at roughly 1 in 292.2 million.

The Hy-Vee Gas Fresh & Fast location will receive a $500,000 cash bonus for selling the ticket under Powerball rules. The jackpot ranks as the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois and the eighth-largest in Powerball history. The winner may claim either the full $1.04 billion as an annuity paid over 30 installments across 29 years, or accept a one-time cash payment of $450.5 million before taxes.

Illinois lottery rules permit winners claiming $250,000 or more to request confidentiality regarding their name and municipality of residence. This provision means the winner’s identity may never become public. The ticket holder has until August 12, 2025, to claim the prize, though anyone selecting the lump-sum option must make that decision within 60 days of the August 12 drawing.

Traffic at the store has increased noticeably since news of the winning ticket spread through the community. Marshall noted that customers are visiting hoping to learn whether the winner has been identified, while others are purchasing additional lottery tickets from the same machine seeking similar fortune. “We got a great buzz going on, and we’re enjoying the ride while we can,” Marshall said.

Though the store has previously sold winning lottery tickets, including some large scratch-off prizes, this Powerball victory marks unprecedented territory. Marshall expressed hope that whoever ultimately claims the prize will consider reinvesting in Quincy’s community. “I hope they do well for the community,” he said. “I hope they build up some organizations in town.”