The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.5 billion with a cash value of $686.5 million for Saturday night's drawing, making it the fifth-largest prize in the lottery game's history and marking an extraordinary moment in American lottery culture.
Powerball's Historic Jackpot Drought Drives Massive Prize
Wednesday's $1.25 billion drawing was the 44th since the last time a jackpot was won, representing the longest winless streak in Powerball history.
The numbers drawn Wednesday night were:
- 25
- 33
- 53
- 62
- 66
- Red Powerball of 17
But no ticket matched all six numbers to claim the $1.25 billion prize.
The jackpot was last won on September when two tickets, one purchased in Missouri and another in Texas, split a $1.787 billion prize. Since then, the Powerball Jackpot has been rolling over for more than three months, steadily growing with each drawing as millions of hopeful players try their luck.
The Fifth-Largest Powerball Jackpot Prize Ever
This Saturday's drawing represents the second time the game has had back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots. The current prize ranks as the fifth-largest in Powerball Jackpot history, behind the record $2.04 billion jackpot won in 2022 in California, which remains both the largest Powerball prize and the largest lottery jackpot ever awarded in the United States.
The escalating jackpot has created considerable excitement heading into the holiday season, with the $1.5 billion figure representing the second-largest Powerball prize of 2025.
How the Powerball Jackpot Works
Players can win by matching all five white balls drawn from a pool of 69 numbers, plus the red Powerball drawn from a separate pool of 26 numbers. The chance of hitting all six numbers correctly is approximately 1 in 292.2 million, which explains why jackpots can grow so large over extended periods without a winner.
Hitting the jackpot twice in five months? It's happened before, but hitting two Powerball Jackpots in your lifetime is astronomically difficult. But then again, with some lottery players using unconventional methods to hit the jackpot, such as using a fortune cookie, anything is possible.
Winners who claim the jackpot face a choice between receiving the full advertised amount as an annuity paid out over 30 years or taking a smaller lump-sum payment immediately. For Saturday's drawing, the lump-sum option is valued at $686.5 million before taxes.
Additionally, if you do join in the fun of this massive Powerball Jackpot, be sure to check your tickets soon after the drawing has concluded. Can you imagine missing a $1 billion payday because you forgot your ticket in your car or wallet? If that does happen, although we hope it does not, you can sleep tight knowing that unclaimed tickets can often go to a good cause.
Recent Powerball Winners and Smaller Prize Payouts
While no one has claimed the grand prize since September, Wednesday's drawing produced eight tickets nationwide that won $1 million or more. Three tickets sold in New York, along with single tickets in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, each won $1 million by matching all five white balls. Two additional tickets, purchased in Arizona and Massachusetts, won $2 million by matching the white balls and selecting the Power Play option.
The drawing also generated 72 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 14 tickets that won $100,000 prizes, demonstrating that even when the jackpot goes unclaimed, substantial prizes are awarded in each drawing.
Final Thoughts on the Massive $1.5 Billion Powerball Jackpot
As Saturday's drawing approaches, lottery retailers across the country are expecting heavy traffic from players hoping to beat the astronomical odds and claim a life-changing prize. For those planning to participate, it may be wise not to wait until the last minute to purchase tickets.
Could this non-winner streak continue? Or does someone finally claim the massive Powerball Jackpot? Regardless of the outcome, Saturday night's drawing promises to be one of the most-watched lottery events of the year.
