US: $1.5-billion lottery ticket sold in LA

WASHINGTON

A record-breaking $1.5-billion jackpot U.S. lottery ticket has been sold in the West Coast city of Los Angeles, according to the California State Lottery.

The Powerball jackpot reached $1.5 billion – the largest prize in history – as of Wednesday.

California State Lottery reported Thursday via their official Twitter account that a "jackpot-winning ticket" was sold in Chino Hills, a suburb the Californian city.

The identity of the winner is unknown at this time, the officials said.

If there is just a single winner, and they choose to take the cash prize instead of an annual payout stretched out over 29 years, they would receive a $930 million lump sum.

The winner would be subject to the highest federal tax rate of 40 percent.

Lottery officials also announced that a $1 million prize will be awarded to the supermarket which sold the lucky ticket.

The winning numbers were 4, 8, 19. 27, 34, with a Powerball of 10.

Powerball is played in 44 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.