The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.6 billion after Saturday night’s drawing failed to produce a winner. With no ticket matching all six numbers, the massive prize will roll over again, pushing the jackpot to a new record high.
Rising Jackpot and Drawing Details
The jackpot was estimated at $1.5 billion before the draw. When the numbers were announced, none of the tickets matched all six numbers, meaning the prize will carry over to the next drawing on Monday, December 22. The $1.6 billion jackpot ranks as the fourth-largest in Powerball history and the fifth largest among U.S. lottery jackpots.
Winning Numbers and Power Play
The numbers drawn, in order, were 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69, with the red Powerball 20. The Power Play multiplier for the drawing was 3×, which would triple the payout for non-jackpot prizes.
Smaller Prizes and State Winners
While no jackpot winner emerged, several players walked away with substantial prizes:
- Tickets sold in California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio, plus two in Michigan, matched five numbers and earned $1 million each.
These winners represent a broad geographic spread, showing that even without a jackpot, the game still offers significant rewards.
Record-Breaking Streak
Saturday’s drawing marked the 45th straight drawing without a jackpot winner, a streak that began after the last win on September 6. This makes it the longest jackpot streak in Powerball history since the game began in 1992, surpassing the previous record of 42 drawings.
Odds and Options
The odds of hitting the jackpot are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million. The $1.6 billion jackpot for the next drawing will be paid to a sole winner who chooses the annuity option, which is spread over 30 years. Winners almost always opt for the cash option, which would be $735.3 million.
Game Mechanics and Ticket Info
Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each, and adding the Power Play option- which can multiply winnings by two, three, four, five, or 10 times-adds an extra $1. The drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on Powerball.com.
Notable Moment: Math Professor Nicholas Kapoor
Math professor Nicholas Kapoor bought a Powerball ticket to demonstrate how improbable it is to win the lottery. He won $100,000, a result he described as:
> “The lesson didn’t really go according to plan.”
His experience highlights the stark contrast between the odds and the occasional dramatic payout.
Key Takeaways
- The Powerball jackpot has risen to $1.6 billion after no winner on Saturday, extending the longest jackpot streak in history.
- $1 million prizes were awarded in California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Michigan for matching five numbers.
- The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, and the next drawing’s prize will be paid over 30 years if the annuity option is chosen.
The continued growth of the Powerball jackpot underscores the allure of the game and the rare but substantial rewards it offers to players across the United States.
