How the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot stacks up against the biggest prizes ever
After the Powerball jackpot rolled over yet again on Wednesday, a historic prize pot is up for grabs this weekend.
The roll-over Powerball jackpot is nearing a record figure, as the U.S. lottery prepares for its latest drawing this weekend.
After no tickets scooped the top prize in Wednesday’s Powerball draw, the jackpot has risen to $1.8 billion - the second highest in American lottery history.
When is the next Powerball draw?
This weekend’s Powerball draw takes place today - Saturday, September 6 - at 10:59 p.m. ET/7:59 p.m. PT.
What’s the record U.S. lottery jackpot?
Powerball, a lottery played in 45 states, territories and federal districts in the U.S., accounts for all three jackpots on America’s all-time podium.
In October 2023, a ticket bought in California won a $1.765 billion Powerball prize pot, 11 months after another player in the Golden State had earned a jackpot totalling an unprecedented $2.04 billion.
Top 5 jackpots in U.S. history:
- 1. $2.04bn: Powerball, Nov. 2022
- 2. $1.8bn: Powerball, Sep. 2025*
- 3. $1.765bn: Powerball, Oct. 2023
- 4. $1.602bn: Mega Millions, Aug. 2023
- 5. $1.587bn: Powerball, Jan. 2016
*As things stand
Lump sum or instalments?
While this weekend’s jackpot stands at $1.8bn, Powerball’s organizers also list a lower “cash value” of $826.4 million. This is how much a sole jackpot winner would receive were they to choose to claim their prize as a lump sum.
They would only get the full jackpot figure by accepting it in annual instalments over 29 years - what’s known as the “annuity option”.
For example, Edwin Castro, the California man who won November 2022’s record Powerball jackpot, opted for an up-front payment of $997.6m. All Powerball winnings are pre-tax.
How to play Powerball
A regular Powerball ticket costs $2. To play, you must pick five numbers from 1 to 69, plus a Powerball number from 1 to 26.
To win the jackpot, all six of your chosen numbers must match those drawn. Smaller prizes are available if you correctly guess some, but not all, of the numbers drawn. Draws take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
According to Powerball organizers, a single ticket has a one in 292,201,338 chance of matching five numbers and the Powerball. A player’s odds of getting five numbers without the Powerball are 11,688,053.52 to one.
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