The Powerball jackpot has reached a record-setting 45th draw without a winner, and the next drawing could award a staggering $1.5 billion.
Jackpot Details
The upcoming drawing will take place Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. ET. If a ticket matches all five white balls and the red Powerball, the grand prize would be $1.5 billion, paid as a 30-year annuity or a one-time lump sum of about $689.3 million.
Record-Holding Draws
Saturday’s draw marks the 45th consecutive drawing since the last jackpot was won on September 6. This is the most drawings in a single Powerball cycle since the game began in 1992, beating the previous record of 42 drawings.
Recent Drawing Results
No jackpot winners emerged in Wednesday’s drawing. However, two tickets sold in Arizona and Massachusetts each won $2 million by matching five numbers with the “Power Play”. Six other tickets matched five numbers for $1 million each, with three in New York and one each in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Odds and History
The odds of hitting the jackpot are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million. The current jackpot ranks as the sixth-largest in Powerball history and is only the seventh jackpot ever to reach the $1 billion mark, and the second to do so this year.
Historical Context
The most recent jackpot win in September saw tickets in Missouri and Texas share a $1.787 billion grand prize, the second-largest in Powerball history. That win was the first jackpot in the current cycle, leaving the $1.5 billion prize still unclaimed.
Winning Options
A Powerball winner could choose the annuity, receiving annual payments over 30 years, or a lump-sum cash payment of roughly $689.3 million. Either option would still be subject to federal taxes, and in most states additional state taxes would apply.
Professor’s Lesson
Math professor Nicholas Kapoor bought a Powerball ticket to demonstrate the improbability of winning the lottery, only to win $100,000. “The lesson didn’t really go according to plan,” Kapoor said, warning players that the odds are overwhelmingly against them.
Key Takeaways
- Saturday’s drawing is the 45th without a jackpot winner, a record in Powerball history.
- The jackpot is projected at $1.5 billion, with a lump-sum option of $689.3 million.
- Two tickets matched five numbers with the “Power Play” for $2 million each, and six others won $1 million.
The Powerball game continues to captivate players with its massive payouts, but the odds remain astronomically low. As the next drawing approaches, the possibility of a historic jackpot win hangs in the balance, while the lesson from Professor Kapoor reminds everyone that the odds are stacked against success.
