$1.8 BILLION: Powerball jackpot now second-largest ever as ticket sales surge across the USA

Sep 5, 2025, 11:21 am (109 comments)

Powerball

Massive sales triggers jackpot increase to #2 all-time

4th-largest cash value in history

By Todd Northrop

Due to a ticket-buying frenzy for Saturday's Powerball drawing, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) has raised the official Powerball lottery jackpot estimate to $1.8 billion, making it the second-largest lottery jackpot in world history.

The all-important lump-sum cash value of the jackpot has been raised to $826.4 million, which is the fourth-largest lottery cash value of all time. The top-25 annuity and cash value jackpots are listed below.

The Powerball drawing will be conducted Saturday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time (7:59 pm Pacific).  The mammoth grand prize started at $20 million on June 2, and is the result of 41 drawings with no jackpot winner.

After the Wednesday evening Powerball drawing, when it was determined that there were no jackpot winners, the new jackpot estimate for Saturday was set at $1.7 billion, with a cash value of $770.3 million. The lottery sets the initial estimates based on what they conservatively believe the ticket sales will be prior to the next drawing. When it becomes clear that actual ticket sales are vastly outstripping the initial projections, the lotteries raise the jackpot estimate accordingly — as they did today.

It is quite possible that by the time the drawing occurs tomorrow night, the jackpot will be further increased. The final jackpot tally is announced during the live drawing show.

You can weigh the tax consequences of the annuity vs. cash choice state-by-state by visiting the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a website devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games. 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.

Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Saturday night are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com).  State lottery websites are normally brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.

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.

Powerball drawing results will be posted immediately after the 10:59 pm drawing at USA Mega. The number of winners and new jackpot will be announced after all participating Powerball states have reported their data, which normally occurs within a couple of hours after the drawing.

Players are advised not to wait until the last minute to buy tickets, as the ticket cutoff time varies between states.

The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million. The odds of winning any of the Powerball prizes are approximately 1 in 25.

Powerball tickets cost $2 each.

Powerball features nine different prize levels, ranging from $4 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Powerball number.

All states except California also offer the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket purchased. The Power Play multiplies any non-jackpot prizes won by the Power Play number drawn that evening.

Players who purchase the Power Play and win second prize will automatically have their prize increased by 2x to $2 million.

Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time

Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the second-largest lottery jackpot of all time worldwide.

  1. Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
  2. Powerball: $1.8 billion, Sep. 6, 2025 (41 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  3. Powerball: $1.7649 billion, Oct. 11, 2023 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
  4. Mega Millions: $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023 (31 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Florida
  5. Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  6. Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
  7. Mega Millions: $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maine
  8. Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
  9. Powerball: $1.3259 billion, Apr. 6, 2024 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Oregon
  10. Mega Millions: $1.269 billion, Dec. 27, 2024 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
  11. Mega Millions: $1.128 billion, Mar. 26, 2024 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - New Jersey
  12. Powerball: $1.0798 billion, Jul. 19, 2023 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
  13. Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
  14. Powerball: $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024 (34 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
  15. Mega Millions: $800 million, Sep. 10, 2024 (27 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Texas
  16. Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
  17. Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
  18. Powerball: $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023 (33 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Washington
  19. Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
  20. Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
  21. Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
  22. Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  23. Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
  24. Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
  25. Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida

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 4th-largest cash value in history.

  1. Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
  2. Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  3. Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
  4. Powerball: $826.4 million cash, Sep. 6, 2025 ($1.8 billion annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  5. Mega Millions: $794.2 million cash, Aug. 8, 2023 ($1.602 billion annuity) - Florida
  6. Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
  7. Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
  8. Powerball: $774.1 million cash, Oct. 11, 2023 ($1.7649 billion annuity) - California
  9. Mega Millions: $723.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.348 billion annuity) - Maine
  10. Powerball: $621 million cash, Apr. 6, 2024 ($1.3259 billion annuity) - Oregon
  11. Mega Millions: $571.9 million cash, Dec. 27, 2024 ($1.269 billion annuity) - California
  12. Powerball: $558.1 million cash, Jul. 19, 2023 ($1.0798 billion annuity) - California
  13. Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
  14. Mega Millions: $536.6 million cash, Mar. 26, 2024 ($1.128 billion annuity) - New Jersey
  15. Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
  16. Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
  17. Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
  18. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  19. Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
  20. Powerball: $425.2 million cash, Jan. 1, 2024 ($842.4 million annuity) - Michigan
  21. Powerball: $407.2 million cash, Feb. 6, 2023 ($754.6 million annuity) - Washington
  22. Mega Millions: $404.2 million cash, Sep. 10, 2024 ($800 million annuity) - Texas
  23. Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
  24. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
  25. Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas

The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:

  • Powerball: 16
  • Mega Millions: 9

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Tucker Black's avatarTucker Black

I hope no one wins tomorrow so the record gets broken! 🤪

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Tucker Black on Sep 5, 2025

I hope no one wins tomorrow so the record gets broken! 🤪

That would be fun

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Thank you all for contributing to the TN PB jackpot winners retirement program this coming Saturday.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by Tucker Black on Sep 5, 2025

I hope no one wins tomorrow so the record gets broken! 🤪

Just might happen, TB 

btw CD, you just jinxed yer self LOL 

Droptop209's avatarDroptop209

Goodbye 1995 Honda Accord.  Hello 2026 Saleen.

wander73's avatarwander73

i think it gets hit next week    crazy

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Looking at the first annuity payment of $27M, under the current figure, could be enticing 🤔

sully16's avatarsully16

Got some more play slips, tonight we can open some wine , get tipsy and pick numbers.

This is the real way people in their 60's plan for retirement.

JADELottery's avatarJADELottery

We've Seen Our Win in the Dream World

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Sep 5, 2025

Got some more play slips, tonight we can open some wine , get tipsy and pick numbers.

This is the real way people in their 60's plan for retirement.

shhhhhhhhhhhh...stop telling secrets 🤐

PrisonerSix

$1billion lump sum would be incredible!

delS

I have a feeling we are witnessing a record shattering Powerball Jackpot!!!!!  Dreams are made to become real, made dreams are with a plan!!!!

Have a plan!!!!

Bleudog101

Who else thought they'd just toss a mere $300 million more to make it to $2 billion?   I certainly did.

 

Now to see if they have live feed from Primm Lotto in CA for those folks from Las Vegas to play!

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Sep 5, 2025

shhhhhhhhhhhh...stop telling secrets 🤐

ooops 😬

JustMaybe

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a you tube video called "Scratch Life" and this guy in Florida gets money from a pool and bought $1,160 worth of PB tickets - they do both the power play and double play.

The money they make back made me feel justified with my $10 purchase.

People are going all out.

Hoping that the food budget is not being affected 😞 

Good luck to all.

noise-gate

* As a legendary warrior who's name escapes my mind once said "  Impressive, most impressive!"

EnReval

Luv the picture

Suzy-Dittlenose

I sold my neighbor's kids to the traveling circus and bought tickets with the money.  It'll be at least a week before the parents notice they're gone....😂

Dave Bowman

And this is what the new Mega Millions was hoping for ...the irony.

EnReval

Makes me sick as it does others, spending $30 and a number feels right but it's 99.99% wrong

 

how do u know u got the right number or ur mind/emotions playing tricks

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by EnReval on Sep 5, 2025

Makes me sick as it does others, spending $30 and a number feels right but it's 99.99% wrong

 

how do u know u got the right number or ur mind/emotions playing tricks

* Good question: But  one can also think of early explorers who decided to launch their ships wondering whether they would ever see land again. It's a chance at something or nothing, it's why we called the Land of the brave.😊

* Take Todd for example: How long did the idea of creating LP percolate in his mind before his vision ultimately took form?  As they say " Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Now let's go out there & win something!

EnReval

So lovely and well written 

 

playing within my means

heisenberg991

If it rolls over what will be the new number?

ShagE3

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Sep 5, 2025

Who else thought they'd just toss a mere $300 million more to make it to $2 billion?   I certainly did.

 

Now to see if they have live feed from Primm Lotto in CA for those folks from Las Vegas to play!

I thought maybe 1.85 bil but you know the lotto bigwigs don't want to be criticized for stoking the flames of lottomania.

Frankly I feel it would be nice to win it a dollar short of Edwin Castro record.  Let him have all the attention ie headaches.

He can have his filet mignon and I'll have my Salisbury steak .....

ShagE3

SoCola

Quote: Originally posted by heisenberg991 on Sep 5, 2025

If it rolls over what will be the new number?

Right now the Monday jackpot is estimated as 2.04 billion with cash as 918,300,000. I can't imagine it wouldn't go up by then tho.

TwoMillion

California lottery would need to close one hour earlier to get their businesses together to prepare for the draw, so they're not going to cause delay like they did last time (when the jackpot was $2B).

Shergill-Chima is the first Indian American serving as Director of the California Lottery. I hope she has a good team that supports her.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

😭New Megamillions now crying like a little baby.

mightwin1's avatarmightwin1

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Sep 5, 2025

😭New Megamillions now crying like a little baby.

I forget who said it...but its the Measly Millions now...lol

JustMaybe

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Sep 5, 2025

😭New Megamillions now crying like a little baby.

If no one wants it, I will take it 😁

ShagE3

P.U.!!!, Hu Kaht Duh Cheez?

Anywho ..... 

The forecast for tonight's MM is rollover

The extended forecast calls for PB jackpot win late Saturday night/ early Sunday morning(probably around 1:05 am)  with a good chance of a sole winner a lesser chance of two winners and a slight chance of three winners.

Of course I predict 25 second prize winners ..... 5 with power play.

Good night and good luck!

ShagE3 

BTW ..... Have a liverwurst or OLIVELOAF sandwich tonight or tomorrow night and salute!

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by ShagE3 on Sep 5, 2025

P.U.!!!, Hu Kaht Duh Cheez?

Anywho ..... 

The forecast for tonight's MM is rollover

The extended forecast calls for PB jackpot win late Saturday night/ early Sunday morning(probably around 1:05 am)  with a good chance of a sole winner a lesser chance of two winners and a slight chance of three winners.

Of course I predict 25 second prize winners ..... 5 with power play.

Good night and good luck!

ShagE3 

BTW ..... Have a liverwurst or OLIVELOAF sandwich tonight or tomorrow night and salute!

I hope you eat healthier if you win the lottery.  😂 Processed meats are really bad for you.

Suzy-Dittlenose

Quote: Originally posted by TwoMillion on Sep 5, 2025

California lottery would need to close one hour earlier to get their businesses together to prepare for the draw, so they're not going to cause delay like they did last time (when the jackpot was $2B).

Shergill-Chima is the first Indian American serving as Director of the California Lottery. I hope she has a good team that supports her.

Is she a DEI hire?  If so, expect chaos.....

SoCola

I expect ignorance from racists and that's consistently delivered.

Fbom

The probability that no one wins the jackpot—thus causing a rollover—is given by: Chat, AI

 

\left(1 - \frac{1}{292{,}201{,}338}\right)^N

 

Where N is the number of tickets sold. Using estimated ranges:

 

  • If N ≈ 300 million:
    \left(1 - \frac{1}{292M}\right)^{300M} ≈ e^{-300M / 292M} ≈ e^{-1.03} ≈ 0.36 \; (36\%)

 

 

→ So about a 35–40% chance of rollover under that assumption.

 

If sales are even higher—as they likely are—rollover odds would reduce further.

TwoMillion

if you live in a state that has  state tax, and let's assume you're lucky enough to win the lottery jackpot, then you quietly move to another to state to escape the state tax, then few months later (when you've established residency in the non-state tax state), then you sneak back in to cash in the ticket, guess what you will still pay the state tax ... can't escape the tax man. you picked your noses, found something, yes, they'd want to tax you for that too .:)

SoCola

Quote: Originally posted by TwoMillion on Sep 5, 2025

if you live in a state that has  state tax, and let's assume you're lucky enough to win the lottery jackpot, then you quietly move to another to state to escape the state tax, then few months later (when you've established residency in the non-state tax state), then you sneak back in to cash in the ticket, guess what you will still pay the state tax ... can't escape the tax man. you picked your noses, found something, yes, they'd want to tax you for that too .:)

The state where the ticket is bought is going to tax the ticket at their lottery tax rate and they don't care where you live.

 

So if you live in Illinois and win, then move to Nevada to establish residency THEN "sneak" back to Illinois to claim your ticket as a Nevada resident they're going to deduct the 4.95% they were going to anyway and maybe fit you for a straight jacket.

ieatdirt

Quote: Originally posted by Suzy-Dittlenose on Sep 5, 2025

Is she a DEI hire?  If so, expect chaos.....

Dumb

ShagE3

If?!

If: tomorrow is Saturday Sept 6 2035

     the PB drawing is tomorrow night

    I eat an liverwurst and or OLIVELOAF sandwich sometime after noontime

    I neglect to shave  - shower -  brush my teeth and comb my hair

     I pat my dog for thirty minutes

     I ignore my cat

     I recite poetry to my African violets

     I throw an egg at my arch enemy's house

     I buy 7 quikpics .... don't view the numbers ..... and proceed to put the tickets in a hat ...... draw three tickets from the hat and rip them up and throw them away.

I feel confident I will be VERY  pleased with good fortune regarding the drawing tomorrow night.

ShagE3

What kind of NUT do you most associate yourself with?

Do you consider yourself a: peanut a hazelnut (filbert if your high IQ) a walnut a Brazil nut a pecan a cashew an almond  an macadamia or are you a mixed nut?

I myself am a mixed nut!

ShagE3

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

through the early morning haze,

I see thars gonna be a super happy purrson on near horizon

best of luck and may Dame Fortune cast her spell on a worthy one in anonymous state 

hsg2000

Some nut this guy is. Does he sits on the commode to <snip> ?Someone call 911 to drag him to an expert 

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

ShagE3

I forgive you for your colorful comments regarding my post .

You my friend, must be a pistachio .... a nut I neglected to mention.

Toodles!!!;

 

ShagE3

winterhug's avatarwinterhug

Quote: Originally posted by Suzy-Dittlenose on Sep 5, 2025

Is she a DEI hire?  If so, expect chaos.....

Suzy the MAGA Trump minon. I was wrong to think this site was non bias. We usually come together to talk about all things Powerball and Mega Millions. Suzy you should be banned for your comment.

Wildbill78's avatarWildbill78

Suzy-Dittlenose, I'm fine with DEI hires all around America. It may be a DEI person selling you the winning ticket or presenting you a check at the lottery office, will you still collect it for hundreds of millions or will you be stuck on that they're DEI hired ummmmm 🤔 I was told by many people DEI actually stands for "DELIVERING EXCELLENT INFORMATION" 💥 💥 💥 🎯 Actually Suzy lets give a prayer for your statement right now, "I hope you never ever win the lottery, In Jesus name amen"🤲🏻🙏🏻Now I feel much better😊 🤷🏻‍♂️

wander73's avatarwander73

Quote: Originally posted by Suzy-Dittlenose on Sep 5, 2025

I sold my neighbor's kids to the traveling circus and bought tickets with the money.  It'll be at least a week before the parents notice they're gone....😂

the answer  is I know nothing.  I know that was a joke.

wander73's avatarwander73

If anyone hits,  your answer is I know nothing. 

 

Also, if you have any insurances with any companies,  look out for people that want that money too.

NJPiney's avatarNJPiney

Good luck everyone 🍀🎰💸

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by Wildbill78 on Sep 6, 2025

Suzy-Dittlenose, I'm fine with DEI hires all around America. It may be a DEI person selling you the winning ticket or presenting you a check at the lottery office, will you still collect it for hundreds of millions or will you be stuck on that they're DEI hired ummmmm 🤔 I was told by many people DEI actually stands for "DELIVERING EXCELLENT INFORMATION" 💥 💥 💥 🎯 Actually Suzy lets give a prayer for your statement right now, "I hope you never ever win the lottery, In Jesus name amen"🤲🏻🙏🏻Now I feel much better😊 🤷🏻‍♂️

Well perhaps her phrasing could have been different. 

I was always a strong proponent of affirmative action and it was simply about giving a hard working person an opportunity.  I grew up with a black history week in school  and loved learning about a famous black American and giving a speech on that person and being that person for the day.  I still remember part of my 4th grade speech on Dorothy Maynard.

However, DEI is not the same thing as affirmative action. It became a perversion of the original concept and had nothing to do with helping people of color.

It became about a guy in a dress demanding access to safe places with little girls and women.

It became about a guy in a dress who was a government official stealing luggage belonging to other women

It became about taking rights away from parents. A teen boy in a skirt could assault a girl in a high school bathroom and simply be transferred to another school.  And guess what happened? He did it again.

It became about drag queens demanding rights to teach your children.

It became about taking opportunities in sports away from women.

It became not about children learning math and science but about telling them they could choose their own gender and parents did not need to know anything. 

It became about telling white adults and children that they were born racist and were bad human beings.

It became not about helping a person likely to succeed but solely about their politics and "orientation."

I live in this hotbed of DEI in Northern Virginia and a convicted sexual offender in a dress has more rights than I have.

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Quote: Originally posted by SoCola on Sep 5, 2025

The state where the ticket is bought is going to tax the ticket at their lottery tax rate and they don't care where you live.

 

So if you live in Illinois and win, then move to Nevada to establish residency THEN "sneak" back to Illinois to claim your ticket as a Nevada resident they're going to deduct the 4.95% they were going to anyway and maybe fit you for a straight jacket.

But it would work if I snuck over to California to buy my ticket and found out I won.  If I moved from Idaho to CA, got a CA driver's license and found someone to swear I was living with them in CA when I bought the ticket, I could possibly get away without paying 6% to Idaho.

 

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Got all my tix. Just a thanks to all of you good folks for contributing to my retirement system for this evenings draw. Best of luck to all L.P participants   

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Sep 6, 2025

But it would work if I snuck over to California to buy my ticket and found out I won.  If I moved from Idaho to CA, got a CA driver's license and found someone to swear I was living with them in CA when I bought the ticket, I could possibly get away without paying 6% to Idaho.

 

Nope. TAX FRAUD.  Hard to spend $ from prison.

You pay taxes in the state where you purchased the ticket first and then in any applicable home state. There is an offsetting credit.

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

I wonder how much you can put in your commissary at once?

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Sep 6, 2025

I wonder how much you can put in your commissary at once?

HLK.....Perhaps you take the annuity and for the first year pay your "6%". Then move to CA for the remaining 29 payments. That first annuity payment of $27M isn't anything to snicker about BUT will always be your lowest tax payout.

SoCola

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Sep 6, 2025

But it would work if I snuck over to California to buy my ticket and found out I won.  If I moved from Idaho to CA, got a CA driver's license and found someone to swear I was living with them in CA when I bought the ticket, I could possibly get away without paying 6% to Idaho.

 

California is the last place anyone should want to win. They're going to blast your name all over the news and the media is going to report on everything you buy. Idaho will come after you for their taxes but you'll have bigger problems. You'll be asking for the looney bin before the year is up. They'll put your friend in jail.

wjd198605

Dallas, TX.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by SoCola on Sep 6, 2025

California is the last place anyone should want to win. They're going to blast your name all over the news and the media is going to report on everything you buy. Idaho will come after you for their taxes but you'll have bigger problems. You'll be asking for the looney bin before the year is up. They'll put your friend in jail.

I definitely don't agree with that take.  California isn't "the last place" I'd want to win.  It has zero state taxes on the prize, which compared to my home state would be an extra $90 million!  I would take the public notice for an extra $90M any day of the week.  Then I'd move to a state with a much better government and live life to the full.

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Sep 6, 2025

HLK.....Perhaps you take the annuity and for the first year pay your "6%". Then move to CA for the remaining 29 payments. That first annuity payment of $27M isn't anything to snicker about BUT will always be your lowest tax payout.

Good idea.  I wouldn't even have to live in California.  I grew up in Nevada which doesn't have income tax, and Wyoming might be a pleasant place to live too.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Sep 6, 2025

I definitely don't agree with that take.  California isn't "the last place" I'd want to win.  It has zero state taxes on the prize, which compared to my home state would be an extra $90 million!  I would take the public notice for an extra $90M any day of the week.  Then I'd move to a state with a much better government and live life to the full.

Exactly!!!. For that amount of cash, I will even strike a winning pose for them, take the cash and vanish, never to be heard from again with a big a$$ $mile.

rundown99's avatarrundown99

I think a significant reason why the jackpot is so large is because most people completely stopped playing Mega Millions after the price of tickets increased to $5.00.  So even the former Mega Millions fans completely focused on Powerball, since Powerball tickets are still $2.00.

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