Unbelievable Jackpot Soars to $415 Million!
The fantastic news is that the jackpot, after 18 consecutive draws without a winner, has exploded to an incredible $415 million! This is the ninth largest potential payout in the United States' history.
The winning numbers from Wednesday were 30-47-57-66-69, with the Powerball number 3.
The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th.
The jackpot has been climbing since March 2nd, when a 67-year-old man from Florida scooped up the previous jackpot of $291.4 million.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each. To win the grand prize, you must match all six numbers – the five white balls and the red Powerball number. But the chances are slim.
Related: America's Largest Lottery Jackpot History
The chance of landing a six-number combination with a single ticket is only 1 in 292 million.
The tricky part even comes down to guessing the Powerball number, which could net you $4 – the odds of which are a mere 1 in 38.
– Contributions from Ahiza Garcia and Jackie Wattles
Enrichment Data:
The chances and history of winning the Powerball lottery with a whopping $415 million jackpot in the United States can be summarized as follows:
Odds of Winning
- Overall Odds of Winning a Prize: 1 in 24.87[1]
- Odds of Winning the Jackpot: 1 in 292,201,338[1]
History of Powerball Jackpots
- Record Jackpot: The largest Powerball jackpot ever was $2.04 billion, claimed on November 7, 2022, in California[2].
- Recent Significant Jackpots:
- $1.765 billion, October 11, 2023, in California[2]
- $1.586 billion, January 13, 2016, in California, Florida, and Tennessee[2]
- $1.08 billion, July 19, 2023, in California[2]
- $1 billion (estimated), April 1, 2024[2]
Prize Structure
- Jackpot Payout Options: Winners can choose between an annuitized prize or a lump-sum payment. The lump sum is approximately 52% of the total jackpot amount before taxes[4].
- Annuitized Payout: The annuity option provides yearly payments over 30 years, with each payment increasing by 5% annually[4].
Recent Drawings
- Last Jackpot Winner: The Powerball jackpot was last won on January 1, 2024, with a prize worth $842.4 million in Michigan[2].
- Current Jackpot: The current jackpot is not specified in the provided sources, but it's mentioned that the jackpot reached $1 billion on April 1, 2024[2].
Additional Information
- Ticket Sales and Drawings: Powerball tickets cost $2 per play, and drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Tickets must be purchased by 1-2 hours before the scheduled draw time[2].
- Prize Claiming: Winners can claim their prizes at the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. The process and details can vary by state[1].
