10th-largest lottery jackpot in US history
By Todd Northrop
This week lottery players across the United States will be pulling out all the stops to try and win Powerball, featuring one of the largest lottery jackpots in history, worth an estimated $620 million.
If you feel like it's been a long time since Powerball last had a jackpot winner you'd be right. The 39 consecutive drawings since the last winner on June 5 is the longest stretch without a jackpot winner in the game's history.
All those drawings have accumulated a massive pile of cash, ready to provide multi-generational wealth to the lucky lottery player who wins it all.
Wednesday night when there were no Powerball jackpot winners, the new jackpot for Saturday's drawing was estimated at $620 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $446 million. Nearly a half-billion dollars in cash!
It is the 10th-largest lottery jackpot in US history, and the 8th-largest cash option ever offered.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. For example, the original estimate for Wednesday's drawing was $570 million, but by the time all the proceeds were counted just before draw-time, the jackpot had swelled to $580.8 million.
Of course, any big winner (or winners) of Saturday's Powerball jackpot will have to pay taxes on their prize, so the website USA Mega has a handy Powerball Jackpot Analysis page available to calculate the federal and state taxes that would be withheld upon payout. The feature calculates both the initial withholdings and the final tax burden due at the end of the year, and even can show taxes calculated for different IRS filing statuses.
Players looking for a nearby lottery retailer — or that out-of-the-way retailer with a smaller line — are encouraged to use Lottery Places, the only app for iOS, Android, and Windows that can locate the nearest lottery retailers in every jurisdiction that sells Powerball and Mega Millions. The helpful app can locate lottery stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, much of Canada, and the Caribbean.
Some states offer direct online sales too, allowing players to bypass the store completely. States that offer this ability include Michigan (Mega Millions and Powerball), Virginia (Mega Millions and Powerball), Texas (Mega Millions and Powerball), and Oregon (Mega Millions and Powerball). Note that some of these links will only work properly for residents of the states mentioned.
Players outside the USA can use a reputable butler service, which provides scanned copies of the purchased lottery tickets securely held on behalf of the customer. In the past, the lottery ticket service was used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.
The winning numbers for Wednesday, September 29, 2021 were 2, 7, 11, 17, and 32, with Powerball number 11. The Power Play number was 3.
The Wednesday Double Play drawing results were 3, 19, 29, 50, and 58, with Powerball number 3. Double Play is a new game option currently available in 13 states that lets you play your numbers in a second drawing for $1 per play, with a chance to win up to $10 million in cash. See How to Play Powerball at USA Mega for more information about Double Play.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Wednesday, 8 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 1 from Florida, 1 from Indiana, 1 from Michigan, 1 from New York, 1 from Ohio, 1 from Oklahoma, and 1 from Wisconsin. (The California winner will claim a prize of $1,361,359, due to the state's pari-mutuel payout formula.)
The 3 tickets sold in Michigan, Ohio, and Oklahoma were purchased the Power Play option for an extra $1 per play, doubling their prizes to $2 million.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, a second-prize win is doubled and any other non-jackpot prize is multplied by the Power Play number 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 and the Powerball Double Play Prize Payouts pages at Lottery Post.
Power Play is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's 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.
Also in the Wednesday drawing, 96 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 19 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000, and 13 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $8,025 this drawing.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $39.2 million from its previous amount of $580.8 million and the cash value was raised by $28.2 million from its previous amount of $417.8 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Saturday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.
Powerball is played in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Mondays, 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
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 10th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, and the 6th-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Brisk sales will almost certainly push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $620 million, Oct. 2, 2021 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 (22 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 (34 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $522 million, Jun. 7, 2019 (24 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $516 million, May 21, 2021 (26 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Pennsylvania
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 (19 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 (12 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 (18 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Indiana
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
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 8th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $476.9 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $446 million cash, Oct. 2, 2021 ($620 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- 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
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Mega Millions: $349.3 million cash, May 21, 2021 ($516 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $340 million cash, Jun. 7, 2019 ($522 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $320.5 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($543 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $319.9 million cash, Jun. 9, 2020 ($414 million annuity) - Arizona
- Mega Millions: $314.4 million cash, Sep. 21, 2021 ($431 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $281.9 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($451 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 12
I think next week or after it gets hit. It's going to be during the baseball playoffs
Finally...a pretty descent bump from previous draws on this run
https://www.texaslottery.com/export/sites/lottery/Games/Powerball/Estimated_Jackpot.html
Good luck to each and everyone of Lottery Posts' participants on Saturdays(10/02) draw.
I think I'll wait till it gitz at least a Billyen, then, I'll🎈POP🎈 it..or SHUT'EM DOOOWN Agin..!!
* l walked into a store yesterday to purchase tickets and the guy in front of me was telling the clerk that he " only plays" the lottery when it climbs into the billion dollar range. I briefly thought of Gregory Jarvis, the Mich lottery player who drowned & never got to see a dime of that money.
For others..Win Something!
I decided to put this run in perspective......Okay,here we go..........
6/09/21...starting jackpot is $20M...then goes up to $31M---$40M--$52M--$63M--$75M--$88M--$101M--$113M--$127M--$137M--$150M--$161M--$174M--$186M--$199M--$211M--$226M--$241M--$258M--$274M--$290M--NEW MONDAY DRAW STARTS 8/23/21--$293M--$304M--$322M--$332M--$345M--$367M--$375M--$388M--$409M--$416M--$432M--$457M--$472M--$490M--$523M--$545M--$570M -----Currently $620M
Let me make sure this is right...from start to current..up 11 up 9 up 12 up 11 up 12 up 13 up 13 up 12 up 14 up 10 up 13 up 11 up 13 up 12 up 13(199 mark) up 12 up 15 up 15 up 17 up 16 up 16 to $290M ** Monday draw starts up 3 up 11 up 18 up 10 up 13 up 22 up 8...8 ?? Really? 8? That's it ? from $367 to $375 ? up 13 up 21 up 7($416M) 7? up $7 MILLION....That's IT ??? hmmmm up 16 up 25 up 15 up 15 again up 18 up 33($523M) NICE That's more like it ....up 22 .. up 23 and finally up 50 THERE WE GO, NOW WE ARE COOKIN WITH AVIATON GAS !!
YEAH YEAH YEAH, I KNOW.....It all depends upon sales etc etc.... All in all ? For this participant,during this run, since it started at the $150M mark for me ? I don't know about any of you but this Monday addition and the blame it on Covid has gotten just a bit old....Take the price back to a $1 a ticket, 2 draws a week and stop the promise of at least $20M increases. I'm finished sputtering, thanks for listening.
The end.................................................Good luck folks
" Time & Tide wait for no man.."
Probability Math reveals to Me the "Time".. with it, I'll produce the "Tide", to wash dat 1: 300, 000,000 Oddz, Myth, right doown da drain..!! , cause I am STAT$TALKER..!!
ANY Lottery that UNDERESTIMATES Me and doesn't RESPECT Me, will soon come to FEAR Me..!!, for I'm in Command of the Ultimate Lottery Weapon..!!
Players waiting to $500mil to play
I play at $20 mil be nice if they went back to $40mil start
They full of B.S.,SCEL full of B.S.,all the LOTTERIES full of B.S.
That's an interesting thing to post on a website about lotteries.
So, the question would be....why are you here on a website about lotteries? Do you even play? And if you do, why, if they are all full of B.S.?
Just curious.
* For l am in command of the ultimate lottery weapon!" ...What exactly does that mean, in layman's terms?
I thought for sure it would be hit last night because of all the low numbers. People playing birthdays, anniversaries, kids ages, etc.
Hey!! I see a recurring theme here 🤓
If the PowerBall jackpot hits the billion dollar mark, it could possibly go past the $1.5 billion that was on offer in 2016.