Doug Stanglin and Jessica Estepa

USA TODAY

The Powerball lightning bolt finally struck. Lucky ticket holders in three states — California, Florida and Tennessee — will split the record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot that lured millions of lottery hopefuls into a frenzied buying spree.

The winners beat the 1-in-292.2 million odds by picking the magic combination: 4, 8, 19, 27, 34 and Powerball 10.

The winners can opt for annual payments over decades or an immediate lump sum.

No one has stepped forward yet to claim a share, but everyone now knows where the winning tickets were sold: A 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, Calif.; Naifeh's Food Mart in Munford, Tenn.; and a Publix grocery in Melbourne Beach, Fla.

Even though the big prize winners haven't stepped forward publicly, lottery officials were already cutting checks for the retailers that sold the jackpot-winning ticket.

Naifeh's Food Mart in Munford, a city of about 6,000 people located 30 miles north of Memphis, was set to get a $25,000 check Thursday afternoon. The store is owned by the brother and nephew of former Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh.

When word spread that a winning ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, hundreds of people who won't get a dime basked in the glory anyway, many taking selfies with the store clerk on duty because, well, why not?

“I’m very proud that the ticket was sold here,” the clerk, M. Faroqui, told local newspaper the San Bernardino Sun. “I’m very happy. This is very exciting.”

Store owner Balbir Atwal, noting his lotto machine, called it the “luckiest place in all the planet.”

“I’m very excited and happy,” he told the Sun. “My community has helped me so much, I’m so grateful to them. I don’t know how much I’m getting but I’ll be helping my employees and my family and community.”

Many locals stood around to cheer and mug for TV cameras that descended on the suburban community of 77,000 residents located about 35 miles east of Los Angeles.

“It’s history. We’re all so excited for our city,” said Rita Talwar, 52, who has lived in Chino Hills for 30 years.

In Florida, the winning ticket was sold at a Publix grocery in Melbourne Beach. An employee told Florida Today the store has been inundated with phone calls.

John Koontz, a front service worker at the store, had just stepped out of his car to show up for work when someone he knew asked him the big question: Was it true?

“They’re all excited. One of the locals just asked me was it true that the winning ticket was sold here,” Koontz said, lining up one of the store scooters in the cart area. “Can you imagine this is happening here at our little store?”

Dave Demi didn't win the Powerball but said he's happy about the possibility someone from Melbourne Beach may have.

"I'd say good for you," Demi said, braving the early morning chill to walk into the Driftwood Plaza Publix to check his ticket for other possible winnings. "I bought two tickets here and two at a convenience store. I did the one Powerball number," he said chuckling.

Others were also excited. One worker was overheard saying to another, "it happened here."

In addition to the winning ticket, the California Lottery said 12 tickets matching five of the six Powerball numbers were sold for Wednesday's drawing. Those winners will get a $1 million prize.

Contributing: J.D. Gallop, Florida Today; Natalie Neysa Alund and Jason Gonzales, The Tennessean

Correction: An earlier version of the Powerball by-the-numbers graphic had incorrect information for the $1 million and $2 million winners. They are 73 and 8, respectively.