By Todd Northrop
As Winter approaches and temperatures cool throughout much of the United States, the multi-state Powerball lottery game is trying to keep things hot.
For the fourth time in 2016, a Powerball jackpot has exceeded $300 million and has entered into the top 25 US jackpots of all time.
The new high-water mark of $359 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $333.5 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $219.6 million — the 17th-largest ever recorded in United States lottery history. (See top 25 annuity and cash values below.)
Players looking to calculate what they would receive after the initial federal and state tax withholdings can find it all pre-calculated for each Powerball jurisdiction on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
The mammoth prize up for grabs on Wednesday is the result of 18 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on Sept. 21.
The last Powerball jackpot that was won was a $246.8 million grand prize drawn on Sept. 17 and claimed two weeks later by a Georgia couple. (See Georgia couple claim $246.8 million Powerball jackpot, Lottery Post, Oct. 6, 2016.)
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. This happened in Saturday's drawing, which was estimated to be $320 million, but ended up as a $333.5 million grand prize by the time all proceeds were counted right before draw time Saturday night.
The winning numbers for Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, were 16, 24, 28, 43, and 61, with Powerball number 21. The Power Play number was 2.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 1 lucky player from Michigan matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize.
The Michigan player did not purchase the Power Play option, which would have automatically doubled their payout to $2,000,000. Power Play is available in all Powerball jurisdictions except California for an extra $1 per play. The fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's mandated pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
23 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 3 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $100,000, and 3 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $24,830 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $25.5 million from its previous amount of $333.5 million. The cash value was raised by $9.1 million from its previous amount of $210.5 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Wednesday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, the second prize amount doubles to $2,000,000, and all other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Power Play number randomly drawn that evening.
A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
Powerball is now played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 18th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Wednesday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $359 million, Nov. 23, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 8
- The Big Game: 2
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Powerball jackpot ranks as the 17th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- Powerball: $219.6 million cash, Nov. 23, 2016 ($359 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
Last Wednesday I woke up and correctly predicted $320 million.
Couldn't think of what it had climbed to as the #'s didn't sound too promising this morning.
Is it my imagination or do big jackpots seem to come around Holiday time (sans $1.6 billion Powerball!).
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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Congratulations to nobody, yet.
Sure do hope at least part of it, is reserved for me.
LETS SEE IF IT WILL BREAK THE RECORD OF 1.5 BILLION.AFTER ALL , RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE
In the past few roll overs the annuity value has far outpaced the cash value. It was close to 70% now the past two have been about 50% od the annuity value.
They are simply trying to inflate the annuity value but most people only care about the cash value.
I'd rather Win It than Watch It Grow to Some Record Jackpot Size!
One of us needs to win it. But as we are along for the ride of your life you might as well enjoy it now.
I noticed that Andrew Jackson "Jack" Whittaker is no longer on the top 25. His tragic life story is available here on Lottery Post using the Search box. One memorable quote from him is, "Do not give any of it away because once you start then there is not stopping it."
I ask myself, "How did Jack's generosity help me?" It had no effect on me. He lost his money trying to help and change the world. He failed in his mission.
You cannot make everyone's dreams come true. You will not have enough winnings to accomplish that noble goal.
Going to look at every combo, number strategy. I predict either my bday, new years or early next yr 3 winning tickets
Interesting how people start talking about the all-time record jackpot once the current jackpot enters the Top 25......
One jackpot out of 2567 sits as the record holder and we have the belief that it will be met or broken in just a short time!
Right now we are only 1 standard deviation from the mean in terms of hit probability; I will be withholding my excitement until 3 or more (5-6 weeks)
I hope the jackpot continues to roll until one lucky ticket matches all 5 numbers plus the Powerball worth over $1.5864 billion!
LottoMetro, When the jackpot gets to these highs there are rumblings among the populace. More players are beginning to put more money on the line.
I agree with you withholding your uncontrolled excitement till a few more draws.
These jackpots are there for the taking. Good Luck!
I could use a nice win like this
My furnace stopped working last month when I was in the hospital, and now I am very cold .............
I was really hoping that people would be in the holiday mood and start buying up tickets....
People are still traumatized it seems from what they may have spent for january 13the draw
They are all waiting for it to hit 600 or 750 million before they decide to buy them up in droves
Not your imagination, jackpots for the past few holiday seasons have hit very large levels and in most cases created buying frenzy among both, the regular players as well as rare participants.