In the latest Powerball drawing held on Monday night, no participant managed to claim the grand jackpot, causing the prize amount to soar to an estimated $1.7 billion for the upcoming drawing slated for Christmas Eve. This significant increase reflects both the growing anticipation and the long-standing streak without a jackpot winner for this major national lottery game.
The numbers drawn on Monday were 3, 18, 36, 41, and 54, with an additional red Powerball numbered 7. The draw included a Power Play multiplier set to 2, which enhances non-jackpot winnings. Despite the absence of a jackpot victor, nine separate tickets matched all five white balls, thus securing prizes of $1 million each. These fortunate lottery tickets were distributed across eight states—Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin—according to an official Powerball news release.
This next drawing, scheduled for Wednesday evening, will be the 47th consecutive jackpot event without a winner, setting a new record within the game’s history. Notably, the $1.7 billion jackpot currently stands as the fourth largest prize ever recorded in Powerball’s existence. The record for the largest jackpot is held by a $2.04 billion Powerball prize awarded in 2022.
Historically, Powerball jackpots have only been claimed on Christmas Eve once before. The rarity of such a win on this date adds to the allure and excitement surrounding the upcoming draw. It is a moment closely watched by many hopeful players seeking to make their holiday season extraordinary.
Reflecting on the magnitude of these jackpots underscores the evolution of lottery prizes in recent years. While it was uncommon in the past for lottery jackpots in the United States to reach or exceed $1 billion, there have been 12 instances of billion-dollar jackpots in just the last five years. The most recent jackpot win prior to this current run occurred on September 6, when victorious tickets sold in Missouri and Texas split a grand prize totalling $1.787 billion.
Upon winning the jackpot, a player is presented with two payout options: an annuitized prize or a lump sum payment. In this case, the annuitized payout is estimated at $1.7 billion and would be distributed through one immediate payment followed by 29 annual installments, each increasing by 5 percent annually. Alternatively, the winner may opt for a one-time lump sum payment, approximately $781.3 million before taxes.
The criteria for winning the Powerball jackpot requires a ticket holder to correctly match all six numbers drawn: the five white balls as well as the single red Powerball. This combination makes the odds of winning the jackpot roughly 1 in 292.2 million. While these odds are steep for the top prize, the probability improves for smaller cash prizes, which may be as low as $4.
Powerball drawings take place three times a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday—with the draw occurring promptly at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The schedule provides numerous opportunities for players to try their luck throughout the week.
This report has been updated to include the most current information.