9th-largest US lottery jackpot in history
By Todd Northrop
After a 30th-consecutive drawing without a winner, the Powerball multi-state lottery game now features a jackpot that will provide multi-generational wealth to the lucky player who eventually wins it all.
After nobody won Wednesday's $856.1 million grand prize, the Powerball jackpot increased to a staggering $925 million for Saturday's drawing — the 9th-largest US lottery jackpot of all time, and the 4th-largest Powerball jackpot in the game's history.
But since most winners choose the lump-sum cash option, the $432.4 million cash value of Saturday's Powerball jackpot is what many people pay close attention to. It's the 15th-largest cash value of any jackpot in US lottery history, and the 9th-largest in the game's history.
For players wondering why the cash value is not keeping pace with the annuity, the answer is that they are looking at it backwards. The cash value drives the annuity (not the reverse), and the economic conditions in the United States has caused fluctuating interest rates, sending the annuity higher with less cash on-hand.
Lottery Post published an informative video that steps through exactly how the jackpot annuity and cash value is calculated — and is strongly recommended viewing for any lottery player.
The complete top-25 list of United States lottery jackpot annuity and cash values can be found below.
Players looking to understand 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.
Saturday's mega boatload of cash is the result of 30 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $20 million prize on July 22.
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, allowing players to bypass the store and purchase tickets from home. Players can see if they can play Powerball online by tapping the link. Depending on the physical location of the person, the link will either provide access via a licensed butler service or the official state lottery itself.
Butler services provide scanned copies of the purchased lottery tickets securely held on behalf of the customer. In the past, such lottery ticket services were used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.
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 $825 million, but by the time all the proceeds were counted just before draw-time, the jackpot had swelled to $856.1 million.
The winning numbers for Wednesday, September 27, 2023 were 1, 7, 46, 47, and 63, with Powerball number 7. The Power Play number was 3.
The Wednesday Double Play drawing results were 10, 25, 51, 52, and 63, with Powerball number 1. Double Play is a game option currently available in 18 states that lets you play your numbers in a second drawing for an extra $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 and a list of states that offer the add-on game.
Although nobody won the jackpot Wednesday night, 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 1 from Kansas, 1 from Maryland, and 1 from New York.
Unlike the other three second-prize winners, the California winner will be awarded a $796,425 prize. California prize amounts differ from the rest of the country because the state 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.
None of the second-prize tickets were purchased with the Power Play option, which would have doubled the prize to $2 million. Power Play is available in all jurisdictions except California, where the fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payout regulations.
Also in the drawing, 44 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 5 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000, and 5 were purchased in California where the prize was $23,318 this drawing
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. The USA Mega page also includes the official drawing videos.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $68.9 million from its previous amount of $856.1 million. The cash value was raised by $32.2 million from its previous amount of $400.2 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 9th-largest lottery jackpot of all time. The amount of the jackpot may rise even further by the time the drawing takes place, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023 (31 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Florida
- 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: $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maine
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Powerball: $1.0798 billion, Jul. 19, 2023 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $925 million, Sep. 30, 2023 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023 (33 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Washington
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- 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: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
- 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
For those keeping score, 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.
The new Powerball jackpot ranks as the 15th-largest lump-sum cash value jackpot in history.
- Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
- 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: $794.2 million cash, Aug. 8, 2023 ($1.602 billion annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $723.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.348 billion annuity) - Maine
- Powerball: $558.1 million cash, Jul. 19, 2023 ($1.0798 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $477 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: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $432.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2023 ($925 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $407.2 million cash, Feb. 6, 2023 ($754.6 million annuity) - Washington
- 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: $349.3 million cash, May 21, 2021 ($516 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $341.7 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
Not playing any new numbers this time
y'all am tired of the games people play lol
Always enjoy the rankings list of jackpots!
So the Billion dollar FL winner has come forward. Lotto there wouldn't say whether they took the cash option or annual payments. What a stupid law they have...90 days of anonymity and that's it!
Not developing any emotional attachment to whatever amounts.
When the jackpot is 20M and when it's 2B the approach is the same.
Buying one QP ticket, throwing the power play on it, and going about my business of making money in other more sustainable ways.
Don't let the huge amounts get the better of you and prompt you to spend more than you can afford to, always remember that the last time you did that you did not win 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
I wish us all luck with the upcoming draws.
goes up high watch only one winner again
They took the cash option according to The Jackpot Winners with Retailers Information report available for download on The Florida Lottery's MegaMillions page. If it was claimed by a Trust, I doubt the general public will ever know the name(s) of the winner(s). The Jackpot winners Report might be updated after 90 days, but if it was claimed via trust that wont tell the public all that much.
Although The Florida Lottery certainly could, after 90 days I doubt they'll all of a sudden decide to make an announcement of by whom or how the prize was claimed. I'm sure they'd take the approach of "If the public wants to know that info, let them ask us for it, and then we'll provide it." Even then if it was claimed via trust or by a LLC, that'd make it very difficult (but not totally impossible) to learn who the lucky winner is.
While the 90 day anonymity law may appear stupid, it's more effective than most think it is. It provides the winner with more protection than appears on the surface while also helping The State of Florida sell lottery tickets.
And then there's this - after 90 days has gone by there wont be a ton of people trying to find out who won that Neptune Beach MegaMillions jackpot. It'll be long forgotten by most. Especially if there's a new big jackpot (like PowerBalls current jackpot) up for grabs. G5
Well said Just maybe!! It's so darn to hit anyway. I know that FL winner who finally came forward is so thankful. It beat tremendous odds
If you take a minute and think about it, the 90 day anonymous law in Florida has the word "COMPROMISE" written all over it.
90 days is the best solution for a bill that The Florida Legislature could pass and send to The Governor's Office for signature. There were those in The Legislature that wanted complete anonymousness for the winners, but there were also other Legislators who felt total anonymousness would hurt ticket sales. Neither side could have it totally their way. So they found a compromise with 90 days. And that works a lot better in terms of protecting winners than many think it does. G5
hope its in an anonymous state
Sorry Hearsetrax..............(un)fortunately it will be in TN
No one will win until EVERY possible number combination has been purchased.
Well darn....you heard it boys. It's time to pack it up.
the odds are against you rip off
It is only a rip off to you because you have never won. It is not a rip off to the FL winner who just came forward to claim their 1.5 B prize or CA Edwin Castro who just purchased his third mansion with his 1 Billion dollar win. There are many other who have won and continue to win millions of dollars all over the U.S. from all of these lotteries.
* You got that right Dick. I called it but CA only got 2nd prize. Come Saturday, we gonna clean up by taking the whole smear. You heard it here first. We taking what we put in plus other States money- we earned it. CA's been laughed at, mocked at- we taking financial retribution.