Mady Young
Sports Editor
One singular paper could be the difference between you and a billionaire.That was proven once again on Saturday night, Sept. 6, 2025, when two players hit the jackpot in the record breaking $1.787 billion Powerball drawing. The staggering prize, one of the largest in U.S history, has been subject of national buzz for weeks as the jackpot rolled over again and again without a winner. Millions of Americans bought tickets in the hopes of cashing in a once in a lifetime opportunity, but in the end, just two tickets matched all six winning numbers. For the lucky winners, their lives changed instantly, showing how fortune can turn on a single $2 chance.
Lottery officials announced that the Missouri winning ticket was sold at a QuikTrip gas station on Lusher Road in north St. Louis County, just outside of St. Louis. The other winning ticket was purchased in Texas at Big’s 103 gas station in Fredericksburg, a small city in the Hill Country. Both retailers will receive a bonus for selling the jackpot tickets.
“Ticket sellers can earn a bonus of up to $1 million, depending on their state,” Fox Business states. “Payouts can happen even before those prizes are claimed.”
Each winner will receive half of the jackpot, with two payout options. They can choose a lump sum payment of $410.3 million before taxes, or opt for the annuity, which provides annual payments totaling $893.5 million over 30 years. In Missouri, winners have until March 5, 2026 to claim their prize, and the state allows winners to remain anonymous. In Texas, however, jackpot winners must eventually go public.
“I personally would take the lump sum payment because I feel comfortable in how I can invest my money,” certified public accountant Dan Geltrude said. “However, having that much money for a lot of people is very dangerous.”
At Mira Costa, the record breaking jackpot has sparked plenty of conversation amongst the students. For some, the idea of winning the lottery is one in a million, something that would only happen in dreams. But the infamous question still remains. What would you do with a million dollars?
“The first thing I would do if I won a million dollars would be to buy a mansion and a yacht,” junior Izzy Basilio said. “I wouldn’t even know what to do with the rest of the money.”
Many others see it more of a practical gift, imagining the ways such a prize could change the course of their family . WIth the cost of tuition, housing, and everyday expenses, it’s not surprising that some students imagined using the money on less eye-catching luxuries and more on stability. For them, winning isn’t about living the lavish lifestyle but about creating a stable foundation for the people they care about the most.
“If I won the lottery, I’d save it for college and probably help my parents pay off their debt,” senior Bridgent Blu said. “It definitely doesn’t sound exciting, but it would change everything for my family.”
For two people in Missouri and Texas, those questions are no longer hypothetical. For everyone else, they remain as a reminder to prove to us how unpredictable life can be even when it’s just one small slip of paper that can hold millions. It shows how chance, luck, and timing can completely reshape a person’s future in ways they never imagined.
“It’s wild to think one tiny ticket can flip your whole life upside down,” junior Russel Fowler said. “Most of us will never win, but it’s fun to dream about what could happen.”
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