The Powerball jackpot is on the rise again after no one won the top prize in Saturday night’s drawing, sending the jackpot up to an estimated $1.6 billion.
Even though the winning numbers were announced for the drawing, which had been estimated at $1.5 billion, no ticket matched all six numbers. That means the massive prize will roll over once more.
The numbers drawn, in order, were 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69, along with the red Powerball 20 and a Power Play multiplier of 3x.
While there was no jackpot winner, several players still walked away with big prizes. Tickets sold in California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio, plus two in Michigan, matched five numbers and earned $1 million each.
Saturday’s drawing marked 45 straight drawings without a jackpot winner, dating back to the last win on September 6. That makes this the longest jackpot streak in Powerball history since the game began in 1992, topping the previous record of 42 drawings.
The odds of hitting the jackpot are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million.
The $1.6 billion jackpot for the next drawing on Monday, Dec. 22 ranks as the fourth-largest in Powerball history and the fifth largest among U.S. lottery jackpot.
The jackpot is for a sole winner who chose to receive the winnings through an annuity option, paid over 30 years. Winners almost always opt for the cash option, which would be $735.3 million.
No one has won Powerball’s jackpot since Sept. 6, that sets a Powerball record for the longest run without a grand prize awarded. The previous record run for a single jackpot cycle was 42 drawings.
The reason for the jackpot drought is simple: The odds of winning the top prize are miserable, at 1 in 292.2 million. It’s those odds that create the large jackpots that are designed to attract attention and drive up sales.
Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are three drawings per week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays — and tickets cost $2 each. Adding the Power Play option, which can multiply winnings by two, three, four, five or 10 times, to a ticket costs an extra $1.
The drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on Powerball.com.
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Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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