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).

A Powerball ticket worth $100k was sold at Xpress Mart at 1315 Kendall Rd. in Newberry. A second winning ticket worth $50k was sold at Food Lion at 5204 Highway 321 in Gaston. The drawing for the $1.7 billion Powerball will take place on Christmas Eve. The jackpot ranks as the fourth largest in Powerball history and among U.S. lottery games.

The New Jersey Lottery announced that two $50,000 Powerball winning tickets purchased last winter are approaching their expiration date.