A Powerball player there holds the winning ticket from Wednesday night's drawing for the game's $1.817 billion jackpot. The winner, who so far hasn't gone public, can choose between an annuitized prize of $1.817 billion or a lump sump payment of $834.9 million (both prize options are before taxes).

The jackpot just keeps rising. The next drawing will be the 45th in the current jackpot run, which is a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle, according to lottery officials. It's the second time the Powerball jackpot has reached $1 billion ...