$251 Million Powerball Winner in Arkansas Resets the Game

The massive Powerball jackpot run just came to a halt.

A lucky ticket sold in Arkansas matched all the numbers on March 2, snagging a jaw-dropping $251 million prize. With that win, the jackpot reset to $20 million ahead of the next drawing on Wednesday, March 4 at 10:59 p.m. ET.

💰 Where the Jackpot Stands Now

• Current jackpot: $20 million

• Cash option: About $9.4 million

• Ticket price: $2 per play

• Power Play add-on: $1 for a chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes

Drawings happen three times a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. If nobody wins, the jackpot keeps climbing.

🎟 How to Play

It’s simple:

1. Pick five white balls from 1 to 69

2. Pick one red Powerball from 1 to 26

You can let the computer choose for you with a Quick Pick.

Want bigger non-jackpot prizes? Add Power Play for $1 — it can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or even 10X.

To win the jackpot, you must match all five white balls (any order) plus the red Powerball.

🌎 Who Can Play?

You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen or resident. Anyone who meets the legal age requirement (usually 18) can buy a ticket from an authorized retailer while visiting a participating location.

Powerball is available in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The only states that don’t sell tickets are:

• Alabama

• Alaska

• Hawaii

• Nevada

• Utah

📊 What Are the Odds?

• Jackpot odds: 1 in 292.2 million

• Overall odds of winning any prize: About 1 in 24.9

Since the game launched in 1992, the jackpot has been won nearly 200 times. Some states have had more luck than others — Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin rank among the top for most jackpot wins.

🏆 The Biggest Powerball Jackpots Ever

Here’s a look at the top 10 record-breaking prizes:

• $2.040 billion — November 7, 2022 (California)

• $1.817 billion — December 24, 2025 (Arkansas)

• $1.787 billion — September 6, 2025 (Missouri, Texas)

• $1.765 billion — October 11, 2023 (California)

• $1.586 billion — January 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee)

• $1.326 billion — April 6, 2024 (Oregon)

• $1.080 billion — July 19, 2023 (California)

• $842.4 million — January 1, 2024 (Michigan)

• $768.4 million — March 27, 2019 (Wisconsin)

• $758.7 million — August 23, 2017 (Massachusetts)

💵 Lump Sum or Annuity?

Winners get two payout choices:

• Annuity: 30 payments over 30 years, increasing over time

• Lump sum: A smaller amount upfront, paid all at once

Keep in mind — both options are subject to federal taxes, and most states tax winnings too.