A POWERBALL winner has narrowly missed out on the multi-million dollar jackpot.
No one was lucky enough to claim the whopping $479 million prize with an estimated cash value of $219.4 million on Saturday night.
But one player came excruciatingly close with just one wrong number that stopped them from becoming an overnight multimillionaire.
From the millions of players who gave it a go, just one from Illinois claimed the second-tier prize of $1 million.
They correctly got the winning numbers of: 7, 14, 23, 24, 60 but just missed out on winning big by failing to get the Power Ball number of 14.
To make the win even more bittersweet, a key decision they made means they lost out on extra cash.
The player could have doubled their prize and taken home $2 million had they chosen to pay just $1 on top of the cost of the Powerball ticket.
On Saturday night, the $1 Power Play option was 2x which doubles any win for players who choose it.
Unlike the $1m winner, thousands of players did choose that option on Saturday with the majority making smaller wins of $4 and turning it into $8.
But nine of the 28 winners of the third-tier prize of $50,000 doubled it to get $100,000.
Regardless of the missed opportunity, lottery officials are now on the hunt for the lucky winner from Illinois who beat the odds of 1 in 11,688,053.52 to win the million dollar prize.
Players are urged to check their tickets with last night’s numbers to see if it is them.
Meanwhile, the next opportunity to try to scoop the jackpot will be on August 11.
With no winner of the grand prize in the latest draw, it rolls over again to a staggering $501 million.
The cash value is estimated to be $229.5 million .
The jackpot was last scooped by a lucky winner in California on May 31 when they won $204.5 million.
The U.S. Sun spoke exclusively with professor of mathematics at Davidson College, Tim Chartier, who revealed the truth behind lucky numbers.
Scooping up a jackpot prize in a lottery game such as Powerball or Mega Millions involves correctly guessing a series of numbers.
Many players swear by certain numbers, sticking with digits such as birthdays, anniversaries, or ages – but do these numbers statistically carry the luck that players believe they do?
According to Chartier, they do.
“I think a number is lucky if you have fun playing it and it improves your experience of winning,” he said.
“The big lotteries are, statistically speaking, a chance to dream of being a multi-millionaire or even billionaire. If playing a certain number heightens that experience, then yes!”
However, the lottery expert clarified that aside from the feel-good implications of playing your “lucky numbers,” no number is truly lucky when it comes to the lottery.
“All numbers are equally likely,” said Chartier.
He explained that even though all numbers are equally likely, some may seem to appear more often.
For example, rolling a six-sided die six times does not guarantee that you will roll each number exactly once.
According to Powerball, the odds of winning the jackpot are a staggering 1 in 292,201,338.00.
Meanwhile, a lottery expert has revealed to The U.S. Sun the luckiest cities, stores, and states.
One state holds the record for the most number of lottery wins totalling $20 billion over the last 20 years.
The runner-up is trailing behind with total wins of $9.41 billion.
If you want more chances of scooping a win that doesn’t involve relocating, an expert has shared an easily-followed “rolldown” trick that won a couple millions.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
THOUSANDS of Americans could be owed a share of $2.5 billion in cash and property if they meet certain qualifications.
Residents could receive hundreds of dollars by sending just one simple text.
In Washington state, approximately 1 million people are owed a share of the cash.
The state is reaching out to eligible residents and has stressed they could receive their money with little documentation.
”We’re contacting residents of Washington letting them know they have something out there so we can get it out to them with minimal documentation,” said Rachel Harkcom, Washington’s Department of Revenue’s (DOR) outreach manager.
Unclaimed property refers to financial assets that have been left inactive or forgotten by their rightful owners for a specific period.
But with so many residents owed a share of the fund, locals have been urged to text the word claim to 2064484545 to get their money sooner.
Those with unclaimed property can also check the department’s website to see if they’re eligible.
If their claim is confirmed, they can expect a check in their hands within six to eight weeks.
DOR also holds about $1 million worth of items left in old safety deposit boxes including everything from jewlry to baseball cards.
Liz Black, DOR’s unclaimed property administrator, stressed that the program is legitimate – and not a scam.
This isn’t the only state offering payouts to its residents.
In the state of Illinois, the State Treasurer’s Office is sending residents cash from a $45 million fund.
Nearly 600,000 people will be eligible to receive cash through the Enhanced Money Match program.
The scheme targets those unclaimed property and send them a check automatically.
These funds, which can be both tangible and intangible, are turned over to the state government for safekeeping.
Common types of unclaimed property includes cash from checking and savings accounts, stocks and bonds or contents from a safety deposit box.
There is no need to submit a claim to receive the cash, instead existing data is used to identify those who are owed.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stressed that this program is as good as it sounds.
MILLIONS of Americans could be in line for cash, vouchers, or credit monitoring from a combined $62.4 million in settlements — but they need to act fast.
From data breaches spilling Social Security numbers to retailers accused of tricking shoppers, here’s what you need to know before the August deadlines hit.
Make sure to check all the details and important dates below as missing the deadline could mean losing your share entirely.
Arisa Health, an Arkansas behavioral health provider, will pay $1.9 million to resolve claims it failed to prevent a March 2024 data breach.
Hackers allegedly accessed names, Social Security numbers, medical details, health insurance data, driver’s license numbers, and other personal info.
The payout covers anyone Arisa identified as affected and who got an official notice.
Class members can claim up to $5,000 for documented expenses like unreimbursed fraud losses, credit monitoring costs, bank fees, and travel, or $70 with no proof required.
Everyone in the class also gets three years of free credit monitoring.
Proof must be in the form of receipts or official records — handwritten notes alone won’t cut it.
Deadline to file: August 27, 2025
Website: ArisaHealthDataIncident.com
Torrid, the plus-size fashion chain, has agreed to a $10 million settlement over claims it falsely advertised discounts online.
Plaintiffs say shoppers in Oregon, California, and Washington were duped into thinking they were getting bigger markdowns between January 1, 2020, and February 18, 2025.
Eligible customers can choose a $15 cash payment (sent by check or electronically) or a $15 voucher to use once online or in-store.
No proof of purchase is needed — eligibility is based on your billing address during the qualifying purchases.
Deadline to file: August 26, 2025
Website: TorridClassAction.com
Health insurer Aetna will pay $2 million to settle claims it discriminated against LGBTQ+ members by denying equal access to artificial insemination and IVF coverage between September 1, 2017, and May 31, 2024.
Four categories of members are eligible, with Category A automatically paid, while others need to submit an attestation form and, in some cases, a claim form.
Default payments are $10,000, plus $2,300 for certain uncovered expenses, totalling around $12,300.
Extra compensation may be available for additional costs, harm, or proof that covered care exceeded what Aetna reimbursed.
Documentation like medical bills or records may be required.
Deadline to file: August 26, 2025
Website: InfertilityInsuranceSettlement.com
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, now part of Point32Health, will pay $16 million after a 2023 breach exposed Social Security numbers, medical histories, and insurance details.
Anyone whose personal info was compromised, including those who got a breach notice, can claim.
Payouts include $150 with no proof, up to $2,500 for documented costs like bank fees or credit monitoring, or up to $35,000 for extraordinary losses.
Class members can also claim up to 20 hours of lost time at $30/hour and will receive three years of free credit monitoring with dark web scans and ID theft insurance.
Deadline to file: August 25, 2025
Website: HarvardPilgrimDataIncidentSettlement.com
V Shred, the fitness and nutrition company behind Sculptnation, will pay $4 million to settle claims it shared customer data without consent in violation of federal and Florida privacy laws.
Anyone who bought V Shred products or services (including via Amazon) or took its online quiz since January 1, 2022, is eligible.
Payouts are estimated at around $10 but could be lower depending on claims filed. Proof includes linking a third-party account like Facebook, TikTok, or Google.
Deadline to file: August 11, 2025
Website: VShredPrivacyESettlement.com
Florida-based Coastal Orthopedics will pay $1.4 million after a June 2023 breach allegedly exposed patient info, including Social Security numbers.
Victims can claim up to $10,000 for documented monetary losses such as fraudulent charges, unreimbursed bank fees, or credit monitoring costs.
Those whose SSNs were compromised will get three times the pro rata cash payment of other claimants.
Everyone also gets two years of free credit monitoring with ID theft insurance and medical info monitoring. Proof includes bank statements, receipts, or police reports.
Deadline to file: August 13, 2025
Website: CoastalOrthopedicsSettlement.com
GameStop will pay $4.5 million over claims it violated the Video Privacy Protection Act by sharing customer video game purchase info with Facebook between August 18, 2020, and April 7, 2025.
Eligible shoppers must have had a public Facebook profile under their real name at the time of purchase.
They can choose $5 cash or a $10 voucher — but not both.
The retailer must also stop using the Facebook tracking pixel that allegedly enabled the sharing.
Deadline to file: August 15, 2025
Website: GameStopVPPASettlement.com
The Criterion Collection, known for its arthouse film library, will pay $4.5 million after claims it shared subscriber viewing data with third parties like Meta and Twilio without consent.
If you subscribed to or registered for Criterion Channel and watched a pre-recorded video between September 27, 2022, and December 27, 2024, you’re eligible.
Payout amounts will depend on the number of claims filed. No proof of purchase is required.
Deadline to file: August 19, 2025
Website: CriterionChannelSettlement.com
Heartland will fork over $18.25 million after accusations it charged unlawful “program fees” to parents using MySchoolBucks to load funds onto school lunch accounts.
Anyone who used a credit or debit card to add money between June 18, 2013, and July 31, 2019 — with their last transaction on or after January 1, 2015 — may be eligible.
Payouts will be proportional to the number of fees paid. No proof of purchase is needed.
Deadline to file: August 20, 2025
Website: MSBFeeSettlement.com
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or 'classes,' a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.