$1.6 Billion Powerball Jackpot Goes To 3 Winners In 3 States; 5 In Michigan Win $1 Million

LANSING (WWJ/AP) -  An eye-popping and unprecedented Powerball jackpot whose rise to $1.6 billion became a national fascination will be split three ways.

The winners' identities so far remain a mystery, but they bought their tickets in Florida, Tennessee and California. The winners of the world-record jackpot overcame odds of 1 in 292.2 million to land on the numbers drawn Wednesday night, 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10. They can take the winnings in annual payments spread over decades or a smaller amount in a lump sum.

Of the 18.8 million tickets sold in Michigan, five matched the first five numbers to win a $1 million prize. The winning tickets were bought in Grand Rapids, Horton, Iron Mountain, Cadillac and Holly. Winners should contact the Michigan Lottery at 517-373-1237 to schedule an appointment to collect their prize, which must be claimed at the lottery's headquarters in Lansing.

The winning ticket in Tennessee was sold in Munford, north of Memphis. The winning ticket in Florida was sold in Melbourne Beach, at a coastal grocery store.

The California ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, California, lottery spokesman Alex Traverso told The Associated Press, a Los Angeles suburb where even lottery losers were celebrating Thursday that such heady riches were won in their modest city.

The convenience store and its surrounding strip mall immediately became a popular gathering spot in the usually quiet suburb of 75,000 people. Hundreds of people, from news crews to gawkers, crowded the store and spilled into its parking lot.

They cheered and mugged for TV cameras as if it were New Year's Eve or a sporting event. Many chanted, "Chino Hills! Chino Hills!" in celebration of the city.

"It's history. We're all so excited for our city," Rita Talwar, 52, who has lived in Chino Hills for 30 years, told the local newspaper, the San Bernardino Sun.

Some took selfies with the store clerk on duty, who became an instant celebrity and may well have been the man who sold the ticket after being on duty for much of the run-up to Wednesday night's drawing.

"I'm very proud that the ticket was sold here," the clerk, M. Faroqui, told the Sun. "I'm very happy. This is very exciting."

The 7-Eleven will get a $1 million bonus for selling the winning ticket, Traverso said.

The estimated jackpot amounts had risen steadily since Nov. 4, when it was reset at $40 million. Texas Lottery executive director Gary Grief has said this Powerball offered "absolutely" the world's biggest jackpot.

Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

But residents in the six states that don't participate found ways to get their hands on tickets. Some of the biggest Powerball sales have come from cities bordering states that don't sell the tickets, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The association oversees the Powerball Lottery, but management rotates annually among member states.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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