As the Powerball jackpot remains elusive with no victors claiming the grand prize for over four months, the stakes continue to escalate, bringing the prize to an unprecedented high. The estimated jackpot has now reached the colossal sum of $1.23 billion, with the promise of a $595.1 million lump sum cash option, pre-tax, in anticipation of the upcoming draw on Saturday, April 6. This momentous prize pool ranks as the fourth-largest in the annals of Powerball history, the lottery organization confirms.
The search for a jackpot winner has been ongoing since the dawn of the year when a fortunate player in Michigan secured an $842 million jackpot on January 1. The record-breaking Powerball prize, however, belongs to November 2022’s draw, when an individual in California took home the astounding $2.04 billion prize.
In comparison, the Mega Millions lottery has also recently crowned a victor. A lucky player in New Jersey matched all six numbers on March 26, claiming a $1.13 billion prize, marking another significant win in lottery history.
With the next Powerball drawing approaching on Saturday, participants, both seasoned and new, eagerly anticipate their chance at this life-changing jackpot. Powerball drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, making the impending Saturday draw the focus of countless aspirations.
The last draw on April 3 saw the numbers 11, 38, 41, 62, and 65, accompanied by the red Powerball 15 and a 3X Power Play multiplier. Although no one captured the jackpot or the Match 5 + Power Play $2 million prize, several winners across different states matched five numbers to secure $1 million each.
For those unfamiliar with the process, playing Powerball is straightforward: a $2 bet permits players to choose five numbers between 1 and 69 for the white balls, and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Whether selecting one’s own lucky numbers or opting for a random pick by the lottery terminal, the goal is to match one of nine possible combinations, with the chance of multiplying non-jackpot winnings by up to 10 times through the Power Play option, for an additional $1 per play.
The Power Play can boost non-jackpot prizes dramatically, with the Match 5 with Power Play prize guaranteeing a $2 million payout. It’s a feature that players can add to their ticket for an extra cost, which can make for a very profitable payout on lower-tier winnings.
The grand prize structure varies, with all other prizes as set cash amounts. Notably, California calculates its prize payouts based on ticket sales and the number of winners. The daunting odds of claiming the jackpot linger at 1 in 292,201,338, but with a $2 play, the odds of winning any prize improve to 1 in 24.87.
Throughout Powerball’s history, there have now been five highest jackpots ever won, with the current jackpot in contention to shake up that list depending on the result of the upcoming draw.
Tickets are widely accessible, sold at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and some airport terminals across the country. Additionally, digital options are available through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, allowing lottery enthusiasts to buy tickets and manage their lottery experience online or via a smartphone app in selected states.
As the behemoth jackpot continues to grow, the attention of the nation and even the world turns to the Powerball draw. Millions of hopefuls will take the chance to write their name in the annals of lottery history, with only luck standing between them and a future of unimaginable wealth. Whether a single ticket or a shared pool among colleagues or family, the excitement builds towards that next draw when we’ll discover if the Powerball jackpot will crown a new multi-millionaire or roll over to set a new historic high.
