WASHINGTON, USA — It's the third-largest jackpot in Powerball history. And it's only growing larger after another drawing Wednesday night with no winner.
The Powerball jackpot rose from $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion overnight after Wednesday night's drawing failed to secure a winner. The jackpot is now close to stealing the No. 2 spot, which currently sits at $1.586 billion.
A jackpot winner now would get either the full $1.4 billion paid out over 30 years, or a cash payout of $643.7 million.
But that isn't to say there weren't big winners on Wednesday night. In fact, 10 people became millionaires.
Seven of the winning tickets matched all five of the white ball numbers and are worth $1 million: two tickets in California, one in Colorado, another pair in New York and Pennsylvania, and two in Texas.
Three more tickets matched all five of the white ball numbers and chose the optional Power Play, meaning they're worth $2 million. Those tickets were sold in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Texas.
It's the first time in the game's history that back-to-back cycles have generated billion-dollar prizes, according to Powerball.
The prize is also now the 5th-largest lottery jackpot in the U.S., behind earlier Powerball and Mega Millions prizes that all topped $1 billion. If won, it would be the third largest prize in the game's history.
The prize has grown so large because there have been more than 30 consecutive drawings without a big winner, dating to July 19. That streak without a jackpot winner is due to the game's long odds, 1 in 292.2 million, that are designed to make winning rare so grand prizes can grow large.
The $1.4 billion prize is for a sole winner who chooses an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option.
Even with the smaller lump sum payout, federal taxes will eat into those winnings, and some states also tax big lottery prizes. Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What were the winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, October 4, 2023?
The winning numbers were 63-9-35-64-54 with Powerball 1 and Power Play 2 .
When is the Powerball drawing?
The Powerball drawing takes place live at 10:59 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets, which cost $2 per play, are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What are my chances of winning the Powerball?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
Over the past few years, huge lottery jackpots have become more common as lottery officials have changed the rules and ticket prices to boost top prizes.
Powerball's biggest change came in 2021 when officials decided to add a Monday drawing to its weekly lineup of Wednesday and Saturday evening drawings. At the time of the announcement, Powerball proclaimed the addition of the Monday drawing would lead to "larger, faster-growing jackpots."
What are the largest Powerball jackpots?
- $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.4 Billion (est.) – Oct. 4, 2023
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
- $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
- $754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA
- $731.1 Million – Jan. 20, 2021 – MD
- $699.8 Million – Oct. 4, 2021 – CA
- $687.8 Million – Oct. 27, 2018 – IA, NY
What are the largest US lottery jackpots ever won?
- $2.04 billion: Powerball - Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.586 billion: Powerball – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.58 billion: Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – FL
- $1.537 billion: Mega Millions – Oct. 23, 2018 - SC
- $1.4 billion (est.) – Oct. 7, 2023
- $1.35 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 13, 2023 - ME
- $1.337 billion: Mega Millions - July 29, 2022 - IL
- $1.08 billion: Powerball – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $1.05 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 22, 2021 - MI
- $768.4 million – March 27, 2019 – WI