By Todd Northrop
While you're out Black Friday shopping, don't forget to pick up some Powerball tickets.
For the fourth time this year, the multi-state Powerball lottery game's jackpot has crossed over the $400 million mark, and entered into the realm of wealth so vast that it's hard to imagine.
After nobody won Wednesday's $374.1 million grand prize, the Powerball jackpot increased to a whopping $403 million for Saturday's drawing — the 13th-largest US lottery jackpot of all time.
But since most winners choose the lump-sum cash option, the $243.8 million cash value of Saturday's Powerball jackpot is what might get people buying a few extra tickets. It's the 11th-largest cash value of any jackpot in US lottery history.
The complete top-25 list of United States lottery jackpot annuity and cash values can be found at the end of this article.
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.
Saturday's mega boatload of cash is the result of 19 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on Sept. 21.
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 $359 million, but by the time all the proceeds were counted just before draw-time, the jackpot had swelled to $374.1 million. The cash value increased from $219.6 million to $228.8 million.
The winning numbers for Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016 were 7, 32, 41, 47, and 61, with Powerball number 3. The Power Play number was 2.
Although nobody won the jackpot Wednesday night, 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 1 from Florida, and 1 from Maryland. None of the three winning tickets was purchased with the Power Play option. If they had, their prize would have been automatically doubled to $2,000,000.
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.
40 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 7 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $100,000, and 5 were purchased in California where the prize was $17,672 this drawing. 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.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $28.9 million from its previous amount of $374.1 million. The cash value was raised by $15 million from its previous amount of $228.8 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Saturday day 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
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 13th-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: $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: $403 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $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
For those keeping score, 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.
The new Powerball jackpot ranks as the 11th-largest lump-sum cash value jackpot in 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)
- Powerball: $243.8 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($403 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- 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
Thanks Todd,
Always fun to read the top 25 list !
Interesting that the largest jackpots had to be split 2 or 3 ways while with some of the smaller ones, the single winner took home more.
If there was a winner tomorrow night then they need to open up on three financial institutions
California is long overdue, l can sense this jackpot coming to a boil.
***On a side note: stepped on the scale this morning and actually dropped weight after eating a good portion of the bird yesterday. This could be a sign, a good sign. What's that old saying" You win by losing. "
A nice tidy sum of money to win!
$$$$$$
If no winner, it will roll over to $465 Million dollars
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!
Good luck to all of us!
I will go out only to get my PB tickets. $403 million is a humongous amount to win as it is. With each draw it gets more exciting as our hope grows. I agree with Todd, someone is going to have a truly WONDERFUL holiday season, I sure wouldnt mind being that person or one of...
And if it rolls Saturday, $465 MILLION....... Holy Moly, well I would like the chance to prove I would do good with it.
Sincere Good Wishes to All.
It would be a nice payday; for sure.
Hope folks get out to play it...that will be more cash for this lil lady when it's time to claim ;)
Good luck players!
Good luck to all players!
I don't expect to win anything, but I'll buy one anyway. Because you never know.
.
Fo' hundrid 'n' tree . . . da'ag!
Cash Value of $243,800,000.00 !!! before taxes of course.
I have plans to place it in a safe deposit box and then get together with professionals. Asset protection is high on the list.
I feel the same way. No great expectations but I just want a chance and you gotta have a ticket to be in it.
Ditto that, I call it the lottery hall of fame.
LiveinGreenBay and Unluckyone: DO NOT THINK THAT WAY. Every one of the winners, never thought they stood a chance to win and BINGO, THEY WON. You are right, gotta have a ticket to be in it to win.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERY ONE WHO BUYS A TICKET, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US ON LOTTERY POST.
Saturday 11/26 is my birthday and a JaCkPoT winning Powerball ticket would make a really nice birthday gift!
Happy Birthday, Meatman!
I will take $50,000 or a cool million myself out of this jackpot on saturday.-weshar75
Please remember John & Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee. The one-third winner of the $1.6 billion PB jackpot. Both of them dreamed of winning a small piece of the pie and look what happened to them. A huge piece of the pie was their reward.
Thank you
I got powerplay on my ticket so $100,000 or $2 million please thank you powerball.-weshar75
Happy birthday The Meatman!!!
Here's to a big win for you. (Well, how about we just split that jackpot?)
"Piece of pie" That made me immediately think of this...and I hope it won't be an ear worm and stay stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
If I win the lottery, though, I'm gonna sing it every morning when I wake up.
I might have an idea what numbers might come out. It might be 2 40's and 2 60's. There was a pattern sequence in the month date and year if you add the numbers and subtract them and something else if I do the adding and subtracting correctly. Look at last night's Mega Millions drawings
Yo Trax, that video was awesome!!!! Good luck tonight!!!
Good luck everyone!!!!!!!
Thank you cbr$
Thanks rcbbuckeye
I already have my brother to split a win with.
If I win, I will give some to those I know in LP.
NO BUMP!
Winner in Tennessee
One winner of $420.9 Million from Tennessee
so tired of not winning
Incredible that they decrease the odds of these games and the big jackpots become more rare.
Congratulations to the winner/winners.
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Sorry folks, but I am really sorry that, again, it's not me.
I really hate this situation I'm in, with almost no money.
Most of you can 'laugh-off' the 'loss' (when you don't win anything),
but I'm doggone worse than that.
I never pretend to be happy. I never give fake smiles to ANYONE, unless I can win something like a significant lotto amount.
I didn't get my tickets in TN.
And, I'm not going to have a nice house, now. I really, REALLY HATE this.
I'll finally be happy in this life, when I can actually win, say, a $million, even half a million, even a quarter million - heck an eighth would energize me somewhat.
But 1 person wins it. It was certainly large enough to split up,
which would at least, not have been so 'bad'. 2nd prize didn't hit me either.
I'm sorry as hell that none of it came my way. Week after week, I blow money, for zip.
I spent my normal amount, which I'll do again, like usual tomorrow, for the new week.
I double-check my tickets tomorrow (Sunday), but I know what not to expect.
THIS TRULY SUCKS.
Do not fret! The jackpot will be back to over a $100 million by Christmas.
congrats to the lucky buzzard/s
And that's that... Congratulations to the lucky winner!
I bought one ticket expecting not to win anything, so I guess I'm not too disappointed. Still would have been nice to win something though. LOL
I read that he winning jackpot was $420.9 million bucks. I guess they threw in a Christmas bonus.
Now wouldn't it be something if this jackpot was won by the Robinson's....once again?
Someone from Tennessee won a $420.9 million dollar Powerball Jackpot and this jackpot is the third time in the year 2016 that there's at least one Powerball Jackpot winning ticket that is a California Super Lotto Plus pick. What do you think about my comment?
Here's a preview of Monday:
Great news for me: I got all 5 white ball numbers matched. Bad news: they were spread out amongst 3 QP's I bought, with no more than 2 matches on 1 line.
It was kinda exciting, nonetheless.
Hey Groppo,
I've been where I didn't have any money either. I've been playing for over 30 years, and the best I ever did was 5 of 6 in Ohio Lotto. Won about $900.
You have to realize that the odds of winning these games are extremely low. You should hope to win, but never expect to win. The best thing to do is buy one ticket to be in the draw. I've learned that cost control playing the lottery is paramount. To spend tons of money is not worth it, you will lose more than you win.
One idea is to pick a game that has good overall odds, ie: a game that has maybe 1 in 4, or 1 in 5 odds of winning a prize. A game like that will let you win a few bucks back while you're trying to win the jackpot. Granted, you wouldn't win a million dollars on a game like that, but you have a much better chance of winning money that can still change your life.
Anyway, keep your head up. I hate to see someone on a lottery board become despondent over losing. I hope it turns around for you.
The amount the jackpot for the powerball climbs to doesn't mean much to me. The $40 million minimum would last me a lifetime.
Sure it would. I'm not sure what your situation is as far as taxes or anything like that or where you live but yes it would and it depends on the principal and the interest that's what the problems
There also is less attention on those that win "lower" amounts. Remember the guy from Illinois that won $50 mil PB JP a few years ago that bought a Dodge Charger as his first purchase? Ok, well, I do, but most don't, it wasn't a big news headline. Or the guy from Seattle that won ~$20 mil. MM JP earlier this year? Yeah, me either. Will you remember the person detailed in the story earlier on USA Mega that won ~$50 mil. MM JP? That single mom in Detroit that won ~45 Mil. MM JP and first bought a Ford Mustang and put family first? There are many others, and I barely remember any of those!
How about Gloria? Or Marie Holmes? Or Marvin and Mae Acosta? Or The Robinsons? Or Maureen Smith?
I am just as (maybe more) excited about the drawing on Wed. than that on this past Saturday!
Flying under the radar!
How do you figure an expanded matrix decreases the odds?
I agree in that I would hate the publicity and prefer to live under the wire. But I always love the excitement of a large jackpot and the thought of all the good you could do with the money. I definitely dont plan on taking it with me and would give most of it away.