The Powerball lottery has entered the history books once again, with its jackpot soaring to an eye-watering estimated $1.6 billion. This monumental prize comes after no ticket managed to match all six winning numbers in the draw held on Saturday night, setting the stage for a potentially record-breaking Monday.
Saturday's Results and Millionaire Makers
The winning numbers that eluded the grand prize winner on Saturday were white balls 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69, and the red Powerball 20. The Power Play multiplier for that draw was 3X. While the top prize remained unclaimed, the draw created several new millionaires.
Officials confirmed that eight tickets successfully matched all five white balls, securing the second-tier prize. Out of these, six were sold in California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio. Two additional winning tickets were purchased in Michigan. In most jurisdictions, this match awards $1 million, though prize amounts can vary in California.
Beyond these, the draw was generous, producing 22 tickets that won $150,000 and another 112 tickets that secured $50,000 in prizes.
A Record-Shattering Jackpot Run
The current $1.6 billion prize is officially the fourth-largest in Powerball's history and the fifth-largest lottery jackpot ever recorded in the United States. This incredible run highlights the lottery's growing jackpots.
The all-time record is held by a Powerball ticket from California, which won a staggering $2.04 billion on November 7, 2022. It remains the sole jackpot to have ever crossed the $2 billion threshold. Other historic jackpots include the $1.787 billion Powerball prize from September 6, 2025, the $1.765 billion Powerball from October 11, 2023, and a $1.602 billion Mega Millions jackpot from August 8, 2023.
Monday's upcoming draw is particularly significant as it will be the 46th consecutive drawing without a grand prize winner. This marks the longest jackpot run in the entire history of the Powerball game.
What Awaits the Potential Winner
If a single lucky ticket matches all numbers on Monday night, the winner will face a life-altering choice. They can opt for a one-time lump sum cash payment of $735.3 million. The alternative is the annuity option, which distributes the full advertised $1.6 billion over 29 years. These annual payments increase by 5% each year to counter inflation.
It is crucial for players to remember that both prize options are advertised before federal and state taxes are applied, which will significantly reduce the final take-home amount.
Understanding the Powerball Game
Powerball is a staple American lottery game played across 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It has been running for over three decades, creating countless millionaires and billionaires.
Currently, a Powerball ticket costs $2 per play. To play, participants select five numbers from a white ball pool of 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. While the overall odds of winning any prize are a relatively friendly 1 in 24.9, the odds of hitting the jackpot are astronomically low at 1 in 292.2 million.
The draws are held three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern Time. The next draw, which could make one person among the wealthiest lottery winners in history, is set for Monday night.
