The Powerball jackpot soared to an estimated $800 million as no winner emerged in Saturday’s drawing, Powerball officials confirmed.
None of the tickets matched all six numbers drawn: 6, 23, 25, 34, 51, and a Powerball of 3. However, five tickets matched all five white balls, securing $1 million prizes each. Powerball revealed that these $1 million tickets were sold in California, Florida, Indiana, Texas, and Washington.
As of Sunday morning, the jackpot holds an estimated cash value of $384.8 million, making it the sixth-largest prize in the history of the game.
Since New Year’s Day, there hasn’t been a grand prize winner, marking Saturday’s drawing as the 35th consecutive one without a jackpot claim.
The annuity option for the jackpot entails 30 annual payments that increase by 5% each year. According to USAMega, a lottery analysis site, these payments would average around $25 million per year before taxes.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot stand at 1 in 292.2 million.
The United States is once again swept up in lottery frenzy, with the Mega Millions jackpot reaching an estimated $1.1 billion. Since December 8, no one has secured the Mega Millions jackpot, with the next drawing scheduled for Tuesday night.
The occurrence of sizable jackpots has surged for both Powerball and Mega Millions in recent years, attributed to both games doubling ticket prices and lowering odds.
In August of last year, a sole winning ticket in Neptune, Florida, claimed a $1.6 billion jackpot, the largest in Mega Millions history and the third-largest in lottery history.
In February 2023, a winning ticket sold near Los Angeles secured a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, marking the largest jackpot in lottery history.
Powerball tickets, priced at $2 each, are available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings for Powerball take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
