The Powerball jackpot is climbing again, and it’s turning heads across the country. After no one matched all six winning numbers on Wednesday, September 3, the prize for the next draw on Saturday, September 6 has now skyrocketed to a jaw-dropping $1.7 billion—making it the third-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.
To put this into perspective, the largest ever Powerball prize was an eye-popping $2.04 billion, claimed on November 7, 2022. Just last year, on October 11, 2023, another record-breaking $1.765 billion was scooped up. With Saturday’s jackpot now hitting $1.7 billion, it’s officially in elite company, and lottery fans nationwide are lining up for their shot at instant wealth.
For those wondering about the numbers that got everyone dreaming, Wednesday’s winning combination consisted of white balls 3, 16, 29, 61, 69, and the red Powerball 22, with the Power Play® multiplier set at 2. Despite no one taking home the top prize, the draw still produced plenty of winners across the country.
Smaller prizes added excitement too. Eleven lucky players won $1 million each by matching all five white balls. Their tickets were sold in states including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, four tickets in Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming upped the ante to $2 million thanks to the Power Play® option—a $1 extra per ticket that multiplies non-jackpot winnings. Beyond that, 117 tickets scored $50,000, 36 tickets won $100,000, and over 6.3 million tickets nationwide claimed cash prizes in the draw.
This stretch has been intense for Powerball players. Wednesday’s drawing marked the 41st consecutive draw without a jackpot winner since May 31, when a lucky Californian walked away with the big prize. So, for those holding onto their tickets or hoping for Saturday’s draw, the stakes—and the anticipation—have never been higher.
If a winner finally emerges on Saturday, they’ll face an exciting choice: take the annuity, which spreads the $1.7 billion over 30 years with a five-percent annual increase, or opt for a lump sum estimated at $770.3 million before taxes. Either way, life as they know it will change dramatically overnight.
Buying a ticket is simple—Powerball entries cost $2 per play and are available across 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, and they can be streamed directly on Powerball.com. Whether you’re a casual player or a regular, now’s the perfect time to dream big.
With the jackpot soaring and millions of players hoping for a life-changing win, the excitement is palpable. Will Saturday finally produce a winner? Or will the jackpot climb even higher, rewriting U.S. lottery history once again? One thing is certain: Powerball fever shows no signs of slowing down.
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