The Powerball jackpot is well into the billion-dollar stratosphere, and after Wednesday’s results – no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – a world record jackpot is within reach.
The jackpot is now estimated at $1.5 billion, with a cash option of $745.9 million, according to Powerball, ahead of the next drawing on Saturday.
Should someone win Saturday’s jackpot, it would go down as the second-largest in Powerball in history, behind the world record set in 2016, when the jackpot was won at $1.586 billion by three ticket holders.
What’s next? Powerball balloons to $1.5 billion without Wednesday jackpot winner
Wednesday’s jackpot had climbed to $1.2 billion, but none of the tickets sold matched all six of the winning numbers drawn Monday. The winning numbers were 22, 11, 60, 2, 35, and the Powerball was 23. The Power Play was 2X.
Powerball tickets are $2 a play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Winners can receive their prize through an annual payment plan over 29 years, but most people opt for the grand jackpot prize in cash.
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A Mega Millions jackpot, separate from Powerball, surpassed the $1.5 billion mark at $1.537 billion in 2018, which ranks as the second-largest ever.
Here’s a look at the top 10 highest Powerball jackpots of all time:
1. $1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
2. $1.5 billion: Nov. 5, 2022
3. $768.4 million: March 27, 2019 – WI
4. $758.7 million: Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
5. $731.1 million: Jan. 20, 2021 – MD
6. $699.8 million: Oct. 4, 2021 – CA
7. $687.8 million: Oct. 27, 2018 – IA, NY
8. $632.6 million: Jan. 5, 2022 – CA, WI
9. $590.5 million: May 18, 2013 – FL
10. $587.5 million: Nov. 28, 2012 – AZ, MO