The Powerball jackpot has reached a milestone that has left players and industry observers alike in disbelief. With 45 consecutive drawings since the last grand prize was claimed on September 6, the game now holds the record for the longest stretch without a winner in its history.
Record-Setting Draw Cycle
Saturday’s drawing will be the 45th since the last jackpot win, the most drawings in a single jackpot cycle since Powerball began in 1992. The previous record stood at 42 drawings, a benchmark that has now been surpassed.
Recent Draw Results
The Wednesday drawing produced no jackpot winners, but it did produce two $2 million prizes. Those winners were located in Arizona and Massachusetts, each matching five numbers with the Power Play option.
Six additional tickets matched five numbers and earned $1 million each. Three of those tickets were sold in New York, while the remaining winners came from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Odds and Historical Context
The odds of matching all five white balls and the red Powerball are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million. In terms of size, the current jackpot ranks as the sixth-largest in Powerball history.
It is the seventh jackpot to reach the $1 billion mark and the second to do so this year. The most recent jackpot win, which occurred in September, saw tickets in Missouri and Texas share a $1.787 billion grand prize, the second-largest in Powerball history.
Saturday’s Drawing and Payout Options
The upcoming Saturday drawing will take place at 10:59 p.m. ET, with an estimated jackpot of $1.5 billion. If a ticket matches all five white balls and the red Powerball, the winner will have two payout choices.
The first option is an annuity that pays out over 30 years. The second is a one-time lump-sum payment estimated at $689.3 million.
Regardless of the chosen method, federal taxes will apply, and most jurisdictions will also impose state taxes on the winnings.
A Lesson from a Math Professor
Math professor Nicholas Kapoor bought a Powerball ticket to demonstrate how improbable it is to win the lottery. Instead of a lesson in probability, he won $100 000, a result that surprised him.
“The lesson didn’t really go according to plan,” Kapoor said. He now wants people to understand the realities of playing Powerball.
Key Takeaways
- Powerball’s longest jackpot drought reaches 45 drawings.
- The Saturday prize is estimated at $1.5 billion.
- Two $2 million winners and six $1 million winners were announced this week.
- Winners can choose an annuity or a $689.3 million lump-sum, both subject to taxes.
The story will be updated with the winning numbers once the drawing concludes.
Closing
As the countdown to Saturday’s drawing continues, the lottery community watches with a mix of hope and skepticism. Whether the $1.5 billion jackpot will finally find a winner remains to be seen, but the stakes have never been higher.
