The US Powerball jackpot has reached an estimated $1.7 billion, making it one of the largest lottery drawings in American history. The jackpot has been growing since no one picked the winning numbers in Monday’s drawing: 3, 18, 36, 41, 54, and Powerball number 7.
A Massive Prize
This massive prize is the fourth-highest in Powerball history, with only three jackpots exceeding this amount: $2.04 billion won in California in 2022, $1.787 billion split between Missouri and Texas in September 2025, and $1.765 billion won in California in October 2023.
The winner of Wednesday’s drawing will have the option to choose between an annuitized payout of $1.7 billion paid over 29 years or a cash payout of $781.3 million after taxes. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
The Powerball drawing is scheduled for 10:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 24, and will be broadcast live on (link unavailable) Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Large jackpots like this one tend to boost ticket sales, which in turn supports education and other public spending through state lottery funds. In fact, Powerball has generated over $37 billion for good causes since its inception.
Nine tickets won $1 million prizes on Monday, with winning tickets sold in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
The Christmas Eve drawing is particularly special, as Powerball jackpots have been won on Christmas Eve only once before in 2011, and four times on Christmas Day.
Powerball is a game that brings people together, and this jackpot represents a life-changing opportunity for someone. As Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, said, “Much like the holidays, Powerball is a game that brings people together to dream big and hope for a brighter future”.
The odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9, making smaller wins fairly common. However, the jackpot odds remain extremely slim at 1 in 292.2 million.
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