Still growing: Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.23 billion after no big winner
DES MOINES, Iowa (NEXSTAR) — The Powerball jackpot has increased to an estimated $1.23 billion after another drawing without a big winner Wednesday night.
The numbers selected were: 11, 38, 41, 62, 65 and the Powerball 15.
No $2 million winning tickets were sold, but $1 million winners were drawn in California (two), Georgia, Massachusetts (two), Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina and Washington State.
The jackpot, now the eighth-largest in U.S. lottery history, has been growing for more than three months, reflecting the long odds of 1 in 292.2 million of winning the top prize. Since the last player won the jackpot on Jan. 1, there have been 40 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all six numbers and hitting it rich.
Lottery officials note that thousands of people have won smaller prizes ranging from $2 to $2 million.
The $1.23 billion prize is for a sole winner who chooses to be paid through an annuity with 30 annual payments. Winners almost always prefer the cash option, which would be an estimated $595.1 million for the next drawing Saturday night.
Here’s where the current Powerball jackpot ranks among the top 10 largest lottery prizes in U.S. history:
- $2.04 billion (Powerball): Nov. 7, 2022; California
- $1.765 billion (Powerball): Oct. 11, 2023; California
- $1.602 billion (Mega Millions): Aug. 15, 2023; Florida
- $1.586 billion (Powerball): Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida, Tennessee
- $1.537 billion (Mega Millions): Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
- $1.348 billion (Mega Millions): Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
- $1.337 billion (Mega Millions): July 29, 2022; Illinois
- $1.23 billion (estimated Powerball)
- $1.08 billion (Powerball): July 19, 2023; California
- $1.05 billion (Mega Millions): Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
Powerball is played in 45 states plus Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.