A $1.7 Billion Question: Will This Jackpot Ever Be Won?

The Powerball jackpot has reached $1.7 billion ahead of the next drawing scheduled for Saturday night, making it the third-largest prize in U.S. lottery history, following the record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in November 2022 and the $1.765 billion jackpot in October 2023, both won in California. The current jackpot has grown after 41 consecutive drawings without a winner, surpassing the previous record of 41 drawings set in April 2024. The last jackpot win occurred on May 31, 2025, also in California [1].

The jackpot has climbed following Wednesday's drawing, during which no ticket matched all six numbers—white balls 3, 16, 29, 61, 69, and red Powerball 22. The Power Play multiplier for that draw was 2. Despite the lack of a jackpot winner, over 6.3 million tickets won cash prizes in the most recent Powerball drawing, with 11 tickets winning $1 million and four tickets securing $2 million through the Power Play option. Additionally, 117 tickets earned $50,000 and 36 tickets earned $100,000 in the same drawing [1].

In the Double Play drawing, two tickets sold in Pennsylvania and Maine each won $500,000 after matching all five black balls. The Double Play is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to use their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing. Double Play drawings occur after each Powerball drawing [1].

If a player wins the $1.7 billion jackpot, they will have the option to receive the amount as an annuity paid out over 29 years, with 30 total payments, or as a lump sum of $770.3 million. Both options are before taxes, and the annuity would begin with an immediate payment followed by 29 annual installments, each increasing by 5 percent. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million, but the game's overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9 [1].

Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs $2, and more than half of the proceeds from ticket sales remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was purchased. Since its first drawing in 1992, Powerball has generated over $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET and are broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee [1].

The current jackpot is expected to attract significant attention, particularly with the prize now surpassing $1.7 billion. If no winner is drawn on Saturday, the jackpot will grow further, potentially setting a new record. The record for the most consecutive drawings without a winner now stands at 42, with the current streak expected to continue unless a winner emerges [2].

Source:

[1] Powerball jackpot skyrockets to $1.70 billion for Saturday's drawing (https://www.powerball.com/powerball-jackpot-skyrockets-to-1.70-billion-for-saturdays-drawing)

[2] Powerball jackpot grows to $1.7B as another drawing (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/powerball-jackpot-drawing-rcna228965)