The Powerball jackpot has reached a mind-blowing $950 million, making it the sixth-largest prize in the game’s history. After no ticket matched all six numbers in Wednesday’s draw, the prize surged past the $850 million mark, triggering a nationwide lottery frenzy.
The winning numbers on August 27 were 9, 12, 22, 41, 61, and the red Powerball 25. The Power Play multiplier was 4x, boosting secondary prizes for lucky winners.
Powerball tickets are priced at $2 apiece and are available in 45 U.S. states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If someone wins Saturday’s draw, they’ll face a life-altering choice:
- Lump sum payout: $428.9 million (before taxes)
- Annuity option: 30 payments over 29 years, increasing by 5% annually
But here’s the reality check: after federal taxes, the lump sum drops to around $326 million, and could shrink further depending on state taxes. In high-tax states like New York, winners may lose up to 10.9% more. In contrast, states like Florida and Texas don’t tax lottery winnings at all.
Since the jackpot began rolling over on May 31, the summer streak has produced:
- 56 tickets worth $1 million or more
- 558 tickets worth $50,000 or more
Powerball tickets cost just $2, but the odds of winning the jackpot? A staggering 1 in 292.2 million. That’s worse than being struck by lightning—twice.
Despite the odds, millions of Americans are lining up at gas stations, convenience stores, and online platforms to grab their shot at fortune. The excitement is real. Social media is buzzing with dream scenarios, lucky rituals, and ticket selfies.
Powerball draws take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, broadcast live from the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee.
The biggest Powerball prize ever was $2.04 billion, won in California in November 2022. Other historic jackpots include:
- $1.765 billion (Oct 2023, California)
- $1.586 billion (Jan 2016, split between CA, FL, TN)
- $1.326 billion (Apr 2024, Oregon)
Since its launch in 1992, Powerball has generated over $36 billion for public causes across the U.S., including education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
So if you’re feeling lucky, this Saturday could be your moment. One ticket. One draw. One chance to rewrite your destiny.
