The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $856 million, the eighth-largest in the game's history and the largest so far this year. Tonight's drawing is at 10:59 p.m. EDT, with the one-time cash option roughly $371 million before taxes. No grand prize has been won in more than three months, and recent expansion into the U.K. has coincided with higher ticket sales. The odds of hitting the jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.
Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $856 Million — Tonight's Drawing Could Make History
The Powerball jackpot has soared to $856 million as no won has matched all six numbers in over three months. - Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
The Powerball jackpot has surged to an estimated $856 million for tonight's drawing, making it the eighth-largest prize in the game's history and the biggest jackpot recorded so far this year.
Drawing Time and Cash Option: The next drawing is scheduled for tonight at 10:59 p.m. EDT. The advertised annuitized jackpot is $856 million; the one-time cash payout is approximately $371 million before taxes.
Why the Jackpot Is So Large: No ticket has claimed the grand prize in more than three months, allowing the top prize to accumulate through consecutive rollovers. A spokesperson for the Multi-State Lottery Association told CNN that as jackpots continue to roll over, public interest grows and contributes to faster jackpot growth.
Latest Drawing Results: In Wednesday's drawing — which carried a $794 million jackpot — no ticket matched all six numbers. The winning numbers were 14, 20, 59, 60, 61 and the red Powerball 25, with a Power Play multiplier of 2. Although the grand prize went unclaimed, a single Ohio ticket won $1 million in that drawing, according to the Powerball website.
Recent Winners and Historical Context: The most recent jackpot victory before this run occurred on May 2, when two players in Florida and Texas split a $20 million prize. The all-time highest Powerball jackpot was just over $2 billion, won by a California ticket in 2022. This year has already seen large prizes, including a $250.8 million jackpot in Arkansas (March) and a $230.8 million prize in Delaware (April).
Expanded Market: The recent growth comes after Powerball tickets became available in the United Kingdom for the first time last month through an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK, operator of the U.K. National Lottery. The expansion gives U.K. players access to larger jackpots and has coincided with increased ticket sales, though officials say it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about long-term effects.
Where Powerball Is Played: Powerball is offered in 45 U.S. states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Payout Options and Taxes: Jackpot winners may choose a 30-year annuity (paid in installments that include interest) or a one-time lump-sum cash payment, which is typically smaller than the annuitized total. The headline $856 million figure is the advertised annuitized total and does not account for federal or state taxes; some states (for example, Texas and California) do not impose state-level income tax on lottery winnings.
The Odds: The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million. Odds are significantly better for smaller prizes.
How to Follow Results: Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. For official numbers and updates, consult the Powerball website.
Help us improve.
