Ohio’s $139.3M Powerball Jackpot: Time Running Out to Claim
A Powerball jackpot worth $139.3 million remains unclaimed, and the clock is ticking for the lucky winner to come forward. The prize, won in the July 3 drawing, has been sitting untouched for four months. Ohio Lottery officials have announced that the winner has until December 30, 2024, to claim the life-changing sum.
The winning ticket, purchased in Ohio, matched all six numbers—02, 26, 33, 55, 57, and the red Powerball number 22. The ticket holder has the option to choose between an annuitized prize of $139.3 million or a lump sum payout of $66.5 million, both amounts before taxes.
Unclaimed lottery jackpots are not uncommon. Recently, the New Jersey Lottery revealed that no one had claimed a $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot from March 26, with a deadline to come forward by March 2025. In 2023, a $36 million Mega Millions jackpot in Florida also went unclaimed after months of no winner stepping up.
When jackpots go unclaimed, the money does not disappear. Both Powerball and Mega Millions state that unclaimed prize funds are distributed back to the state lotteries. For Ohio, the unclaimed Powerball prize would be added to the unclaimed prize fund, ultimately contributing to state lottery profits.
So, if you’re holding onto a Powerball ticket from the July 3 drawing, now is the time to double-check your numbers before the December deadline.
