The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.7 billion after Monday night’s drawing failed to produce a winner, sending the prize to roll over once more.
Jackpot Rises to $1.7 Billion
The drawing took place on Monday night, and the estimated jackpot was $1.6 billion before the rollover. No ticket matched all six numbers, so the massive prize will carry over.
Drawing Results and Winning Numbers
The winning numbers for the drawing were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54, with a red Powerball of 7. The Power Play multiplier was 2×.
Prize Distribution and Winners
While no one claimed the top prize, several players still walked away with substantial winnings. Tickets that matched five numbers earned $1 million each, and those tickets were sold in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York (two tickets), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Record-Extending Drawings
This Wednesday’s drawing will be the record-extending 47th consecutive drawing without a jackpot winner, surpassing the previous record of 42 drawings.
Historical Context
Since the last jackpot win on September 6, 2023, no Powerball drawing has produced a top prize winner, and the prize has increased each week.
Odds and Payout Options
The 47th consecutive drawing without a winner is the longest streak in Powerball history, surpassing the previous record of 42 consecutive drawings that occurred in 2019 when the jackpot reached $1.3 billion.
The current $1.7 billion jackpot ranks as the fourth-largest Powerball prize ever awarded and places it among the largest prizes in all U.S. lottery games.
The most recent jackpot win on September 6, 2023, was shared by two tickets sold in Missouri and Texas. The prize was split evenly, giving each holder $893.5 million before taxes.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million. This probability is based on the 69 white balls and 26 red Powerball balls used in the game.
If a ticket matches all five white balls and the red Powerball drawn on Monday, the winner would have two payout options. The estimated $1.6 billion grand prize would be paid through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years, or a one-time, lump-sum payment of an estimated $735.3 million.
Regardless of the chosen option, the winner would not receive the full prize amount because winnings are subject to federal taxes and, in most jurisdictions, state taxes as well. Federal tax rates on lottery winnings can reach 37%, and state tax rates vary by jurisdiction, which can significantly reduce the net amount received by the winner.
Attorney Andrew Stoltmann said that some of the most vicious legal fights over the lottery come from office lotto pools gone wrong. He added that he has represented 12 lottery winners, many of whom lost all their winnings through bad investments, reckless spending and greedy relatives.
Stoltmann remarked, “Unfortunately, the people who win the lottery think at that point, the journey is over. And what they don’t realize is that the journey has really just begun,” highlighting the importance of financial planning after a win.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each, and the Power Play option adds $1 for a chance to multiply winnings. The game is available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Power Play option can multiply non-jackpot prizes, turning a $1 million five-number match into $2 million with the 2× multiplier, and higher multipliers can increase prizes to $10 million.
Drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, ensuring players have multiple opportunities each week to try their luck.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded was $2.04 billion, won in 2022 by a ticket from California. That prize remains the largest ever awarded in the Powerball program.
Key Facts
- Jackpot estimate: $1.7 billion after Monday rollover.
- No winner matched all six numbers.
- Record 47 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner.
- Five-number matches earned $1 million each; sold in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York (2), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
- Power Play multiplier: 2× for this drawing.
- Odds of winning: 1 in 292.2 million.
- Payout options: $1.6 billion annuity over 30 years or $735.3 million lump sum.
- Federal and state taxes apply to winnings.
- Powerball available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Tickets cost $2; Power Play option adds $1.
- Largest jackpot ever: $2.04 billion in 2022 (California).
Key Takeaways
- The jackpot has reached $1.7 billion after a Monday rollover.
- No one matched all numbers; the 47th consecutive drawing is a record.
- Five-number matches still yield $1 million prizes.
- Winners face significant taxes on their payouts.
- The Power Play option can double non-jackpot winnings.
The 47-drawing streak has captured the attention of lottery enthusiasts and analysts alike, who note that such prolonged rollovers are rare and often result in larger prizes that attract more ticket sales.
As the jackpot climbs, ticket sales have surged, with retailers reporting record numbers of tickets sold in the weeks leading up to the Wednesday drawing.
Conclusion
The ongoing jackpot serves as a reminder of the excitement and uncertainty that surrounds the Powerball game, with millions of tickets sold each week in pursuit of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
