Powerball Jackpot Soars to $1.7 Billion, Third Largest in History
The Powerball jackpot has officially climbed to a jaw-dropping $1.7 billion, making it the third-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. This massive leap happened after no ticket matched all six numbers in Wednesday’s drawing. The winning numbers that rolled out were 3, 16, 29, 61, 69, and the red Powerball 22, with a Power Play multiplier of 2. That means the jackpot rolls over yet again, setting up for Saturday night’s much-anticipated drawing.
To put this in perspective, only two jackpots have ever surpassed the $1.7 billion mark. The record-holder is the $2.04 billion Powerball prize from November 2022, and just behind it is the $1.765 billion prize won in October 2023. Interestingly, both of those life-changing wins happened in California. So, with this upcoming drawing, players are wondering if history might repeat itself—or if another state will claim the glory.
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Saturday’s drawing will be the 42nd since the jackpot was last won back on May 31, when a lucky ticket sold in California snagged the prize. That makes this the longest streak of consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner in Powerball’s history, breaking the previous record of 41 set in April 2024.
Now, what does a $1.7 billion jackpot actually mean for the winner? Well, if someone hits all six numbers, they’ll get to choose between two payout options. They could take the annuity, which is spread across 30 payments over 29 years, starting with one immediate payout and increasing by 5% each year. Or they could go for the lump-sum cash option, which is currently estimated at about $770 million. Keep in mind, both choices are before taxes.
But even though nobody took home the grand prize on Wednesday, plenty of people still walked away winners. Eleven tickets across the U.S. matched all five white balls, earning $1 million each. Four other players doubled their luck by adding the Power Play option, boosting their winnings to $2 million. On top of that, smaller prizes in the range of $50,000 and $100,000 were claimed by dozens of players, proving once again that checking your ticket is always worth it.
It’s worth remembering just how slim the odds are of actually hitting the jackpot—about 1 in 292.2 million. Yet that doesn’t seem to dampen enthusiasm. At just $2 per play, millions of tickets are being sold in 45 states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. And while players dream about striking it rich, it’s not only individuals who benefit. Since Powerball began in 1992, more than $36 billion has been raised for public programs and community causes through lottery funds.
So, as the jackpot continues to grow, excitement is reaching fever pitch. Whether Saturday finally crowns a new billionaire—or pushes the jackpot even higher—the Powerball craze is sure to keep everyone talking. And for those holding a ticket, hope is alive until the very last number is drawn.
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