Time is running out to secure tickets for one of the most substantial Powerball jackpots ever recorded.
As of now, the prize stands at an estimated $1.6 billion, with a cash option of $735.3 million.
This amount positions it as the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in the history of the United States, based on official lottery data.
The last grand prize winner emerged on September 6, when tickets from Montana and Texas claimed the $1.787 billion top award. The odds of hitting the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million.
Upcoming Drawing Information
The next Powerball drawing is set for December 22.
Drawings occur three times weekly, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Recent Drawing Results
For the December 20 drawing, the winning numbers were 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69. The red Powerball was 20, and the Power Play multiplier was 3x.
No one won the grand prize in that drawing. However, eight tickets matched five numbers to win $1 million each, located in California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan (two winners), New Hampshire, and Ohio.
Ticket Purchase Details
Powerball is available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Participation is open to non-U.S. citizens and residents.
Tickets can be bought at gas stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets in states like Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Sales typically end one to two hours before the drawing, depending on the location.
In Ohio, tickets are also available online at www.ohiolottery.com, with a cutoff time of 10 p.m. ET on drawing days.
Ticket Costs and Gameplay
A single ticket costs $2. An extra $1 adds the Power Play feature, which can multiply non-jackpot winnings. For another $1, players can opt for Double Play for a secondary chance at $10 million.
To play, choose five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Numbers can be selected manually or via random terminal selection.
Winning Combinations
There are nine ways to win:
- Match all five white balls and the red Powerball for the grand prize.
- Match five white balls for $1 million.
- Match four white balls and the red Powerball for $50,000.
- Match four white balls for $100.
- Match three white balls and the red Powerball for $100.
- Match three white balls for $7.
- Match two white balls and the red Powerball for $7.
- Match one white ball and the red Powerball for $4.
- Match the red Powerball only for $4.
The Power Play can multiply non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or ten times, with the 10x multiplier available when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
Prize Distribution
All prizes except the grand prize are fixed cash amounts. In California, payouts are pari-mutuel, based on sales and the number of winners.
Viewing the Drawing
The drawing is held at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee and streams live on the Powerball website at 10:59 p.m. ET.
Historical Jackpot Rankings
Top U.S. lottery jackpots include:
- $2.04 billion on November 7, 2022 (California).
- $1.787 billion on September 6, 2025 (Montana and Texas).
- $1.765 billion on October 11, 2023 (California).
- $1.60 billion on December 12, 2025 (current).
- $1.586 billion on January 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee).
