The buzz around the Powerball is reaching new heights, and for good reason—the jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing has officially soared to an estimated $1 billion. Yes, you read that right—one billion dollars up for grabs.
This milestone didn’t come overnight. Wednesday’s drawing, which dangled a staggering $850 million prize, came and went without a grand prize winner. Initially, Powerball estimated the next pot would climb to around $950 million, but after reviewing ticket sales nationwide, officials gave it a bump. As of Friday, the official number now sits at that headline-grabbing $1 billion.
Here’s the fun part: if someone scores big Saturday night, they’ll face the ultimate money decision. Do you go for the lump sum option—a jaw-dropping estimated $453.1 million in cold, hard cash (before Uncle Sam gets his share, of course)? Or do you take the annuity plan—one upfront payment followed by 29 yearly checks that increase by 5% annually? Either way, it’s a life-changing windfall.
And get this—this isn’t the first time Powerball has reached the billion-dollar mark. In fact, it’s the sixth time in the game’s 33-year history. Four of those billion-dollar jackpots were won in California alone. The most legendary? A ticket sold in Altadena back in 2022, which snagged an eye-popping $2.04 billion—the largest lottery prize in history. It’s still the record-breaker for both Powerball and any lottery game worldwide.
If you’re feeling lucky, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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Odds of winning the jackpot: 1 in 292.2 million (yep, it’s tough, but someone has to win eventually).
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Ticket price: Just $2 a play, making it one of the cheapest thrills with the biggest payout in the country.
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Where you can buy: Tickets are sold in 45 states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Drawing schedule: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 11 p.m. ET, live from the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee.
It’s worth noting that no one has snagged the Powerball jackpot since May 31, when a single California ticket won $204.5 million (cash value of $91.6 million). That makes this billion-dollar climb one of the longest jackpot runs in recent history.
Think about it—if a billion-dollar ticket is sold Saturday, it could instantly turn an everyday person into one of the wealthiest lottery winners ever. Imagine paying off all your bills, setting up generations of your family for life, or even making headlines as the latest Powerball billionaire.
Powerball itself has been sparking dreams since its very first drawing in 1992. Over the decades, it’s created countless millionaires and a handful of billionaires, making it the ultimate “what if” game for players across the U.S. And with the jackpot now sitting at 10 digits, the excitement is off the charts.
So whether you’re buying one ticket for fun or going all-in with a pool of friends and coworkers, Saturday night’s drawing could be one for the history books. Somebody’s numbers might just match up—and if it’s yours, life will never be the same.
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