Now we're making history. The next Powerball drawing will offer the second-biggest jackpot in the last 15 years.
The winning numbers in the most recent drawing were 3, 16, 29, 61, and 69, with 22 as the Powerball.
No one managed to match all six numbers to claim the $1.44 billion grand prize, so the jackpot has now skyrocketed to an incredible $1.7 billion for the next drawing.
The jackpot is reaching rarified air. It is now one of the top 3 biggest of all-time, and tied for second-biggest since 2010.
Saturday's drawing will mark the 42nd time since a Powerball jackpot was last claimed on May 31, 2025, in California. This sets a new record for the most consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. The previous record was 41 drawings, which concluded on April 6, 2024, when a $1.326 billion jackpot was won in Oregon.
What Are The Five Largest Powerball Jackpots of All-Time?
- $2.04 billion (November 7, 2022): A single ticket purchased by Edwin Castro in Altadena, California, won this record-breaking prize.
- $1.765 billion (October 11, 2023): A group of winners represented by Theodorus Struyck won the prize with a ticket sold in Frazier Park, California.
- $1.7 billion (September 2025) The current jackpot
- $1.70 billion (estimated, September 6, 2025): The current jackpot ranks third on the list.
- $1.586 billion (January 13, 2016): This prize was split between three tickets sold in California, Florida, and Tennessee. It was the first lottery jackpot to exceed $1 billion.
- $1.326 billion (April 6, 2024): A single winning ticket was sold in Portland, Oregon
While no one hit the big jackpot this time, there were still some lucky folks who walked away significantly wealthier.
The last Powerball drawing had four players who matched five numbers and opted for the Power Play multiplier each pocketed a cool $2 million. And they're not alone—another eleven ticket holders who also matched five numbers snagged $1 million each. These winners bought their tickets in Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming.
Across the country, eleven tickets matched all five white balls to score $1 million each. These winning tickets were sold in several states, including two in California and Georgia, and others in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Just a note—prizes in California can vary based on ticket sales and the number of winners.
The drawing also saw 117 tickets snagging $50,000 for matching four white balls and the Powerball, while 36 tickets bumped that prize to $100,000 by also adding Power Play.
In total, more than 6.3 million tickets ended up winning some cash in last night's Powerball drawing. So, don’t forget to check your numbers—you might have a winning ticket!
What's Fueling These Massive Powerball Jackpots?
You might be wondering why these jackpots keep getting so huge. Well, changes in the lottery rules have allowed for a wider pool of numbers.
This basically means more rollovers—which is what happens when there's no jackpot winner—and bigger prizes up for grabs.
That means massive jackpots happen more often than you think.
In addition to the two largest Powerball prizes ever awarded ($2.04 billion, won in California in November 2022 and $1.765 billion in October 2023), Mega Millions has also generated some big prizes. Over on the Mega Millions side, the record is $1.602 billion, won in Florida in August 2023.
It's clear: these life-changing sums are tantalizing enough to keep people buying tickets in droves.
Lump Sum or Annuity? The Choice is Yours
If you're daydreaming about what you'd do with such a windfall, here's some food for thought.
If someone wins the Powerball jackpot, they can choose between two options: either the full prize amount of $1.70 billion paid out over time or a one-time lump sum of $770.3 million.
Both amounts are before taxes. If the winner chooses the installment option, they'll get an initial payment right away, followed by 29 yearly payments that grow by 5% each year.
Most winners opt for a lump-sum payment instead of annual installments, even though taxes significantly reduce its value. Why? Because getting your hands on that cash right away is pretty tempting.
You can find out how much your state will deduct. After that, you can break it down to determine just how much you would end up with.
But some tickets even go unclaimed. When that happens, the money goes to a good cause.
Get Ready for the Next Powerball Drawing
Eager to join the ranks of lottery winners?
Your next shot at becoming a billionaire is in the upcoming Saturday drawing. Whether you hit it big or enjoy the thrill of playing, make sure to mark your calendar!
