The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing is estimated to be $865 million, making it the fifth-largest jackpot in Powerball history. This comes after a ticket in New Jersey won a Mega Millions grand prize worth over $1 billion. The Powerball jackpot increased from $800 million after no tickets matched all six numbers in the previous drawing. The winner of Wednesday’s drawing could choose between annuitized payments or a lump sum estimated at $416.1 million.
The Mega Millions jackpot, which was won on Tuesday, was worth an estimated $1.13 billion and was won by a ticket sold in New Jersey. The winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and Mega Ball 4. The holder of the jackpot could choose to receive the full amount in annual payments or take a lump sum of $537.5 million. This Mega Millions jackpot would rank as the fifth-largest in the game’s history.
This is the second time this year that the Powerball jackpot has reached over $800 million. The last Powerball jackpot winner was in January when a ticket in Michigan won $842.4 million. Since then, there have been 36 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. The largest Powerball jackpot, and largest US lottery prize ever won, was $2.04 billion by a ticket purchased in California in November 2022. The estimated $865 million jackpot for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing would rank fifth on Powerball’s all-time list.
To win the Powerball jackpot, a ticket must match all five white balls plus the red Powerball. The odds of winning any prize in a Powerball drawing are 1 in 24.9, while the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Drawings are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. ET in Tallahassee, Florida.
Overall, the excitement surrounding the potential $865 million Powerball jackpot comes on the heels of a Mega Millions jackpot worth over $1 billion in New Jersey. This illustrates the immense popularity of these lottery games and the massive prizes they offer. Whether winners choose annuitized payments or lump sum options, the opportunity to become an instant multimillionaire is a major draw for players. With high stakes and long odds, these lottery drawings capture the attention and imagination of millions across the country in a quest for life-changing wealth.
