As Christmas Eve approaches, the holiday season may bring one lucky winner an enormous gift from Santa’s bag—a Powerball jackpot estimated at $1.7 billion.
This eye-popping prize has grown to become the fourth largest in both Powerball and U.S. lottery history after no tickets matched the winning numbers on Monday night. Those elusive numbers were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54, and a Powerball of 7.
Tomorrow night offers a rare opportunity for participants, with the jackpot carrying an estimated lump-sum cash value of $781.3 million. But that figure may vary state to state based on taxes.
“Much like the holidays, Powerball is a game that brings people together to dream big and hope for a brighter future,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chairperson. “We hope this growing jackpot inspires excitement and joy, and, most importantly, goodwill to all. A portion of every ticket helps support programs and services that benefit local communities.”
If won, this would be one of the most significant early Christmas presents imaginable.
In case you're wondering, the Powerball jackpot has been hit once before on Christmas Eve in 2011 and four times on Christmas Day (1996, 2002, 2010 and 2013) since it launched in 1992.
Second Time Powerball Tops $1 Billion in 2025
This is the second time in 2025 a Powerball jackpot has soared past the $1 billion mark. Just a few months ago, in September, a $1.79 billion prize was claimed in both Missouri and Texas.
The record for the largest Powerball jackpot remains $2.04 billion, won on November 7, 2022, with the ticket sold in California.
Record U.S. Lottery Jackpots
- $2.04 Billion – Powerball – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.787 Billion – Powerball – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX
- $1.765 Billion – Powerball – Oct. 11, 2023 – CA
- $1.70 Billion est. – Powerball – Dec. 24, 2025
- $1.602 Billion – Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – FL
Despite the big jackpots, some winning Powerball tickets do go unclaimed.
Your Guide to Playing for the Powerball Jackpot
For those feeling lucky and eyeing to participate, the next Powerball drawing will be held on Christmas Eve at 10:59 p.m.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- Utah
In participating states, tickets can typically be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. In some states, like Ohio, you can also buy tickets through the official state lottery website
Ticket sales, whether in-store or online, will close at 9:45 p.m. on the day of the draw.
How Much Do Powerball Tickets Cost?
If you want to try your luck, it will cost you $2 per ticket. Players seeking to amplify their non-jackpot winnings can opt for the Power Play feature, adding just $1 per play to multiply prizes by up to 10 times, depending on the number selected.
The odds of hitting it big and winning the Powerball jackpot remain steep, at 1 in 292.2 million.
Updates and the live drawing can be watched online on platforms like Powerball.com or local lottery websites.
For those who buy their tickets in-store, another option is the Double Play feature, allowing each ticket a second chance to win in an additional drawing held shortly after the main event, with prizes reaching up to $10 million.
As players anticipate the next drawing, the excitement builds.
Whether this festive season will bring a new multimillionaire into the world remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure—the allure of the Powerball continues to capture the imaginations of dreamers nationwide.
