Powerball, Mega Millions Jackpots Continue To Rise As Luck Would Have It

Did you ever wonder why 13 is considered an unlucky number? Well, if you have, you’re in luck, because we’re about to explore it.

To be fair, we are not triskaidekaphobia-ologists by trade, but a quick search around the ol’ internet turns up a few clues.

The main culprit, it would seem, is the Last Supper. Jesus and his 12 apostles make 13, and as a result of what happened soon thereafter, the superstition that the number 13 invites death was born in Western culture.

Additionally, 13 has the misfortune of following 12, which happens to be a number people generally love. There’s 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 days of Christmas, etc. Then 13 shows up and it’s all weird and stuff. Yuck.

It’s actually pretty insane how we legitimately fear the number, and if you don’t think we do, go find me the 13th floor in any building. 

Anyway, 13: Unlucky.

But for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, 13 might end up being a very lucky number, as an estimated $716 million jackpot is on the line. If someone takes it down, it will be the … 14th-largest jackpot in Powerball history.

See what’s going on here? If no one wins tonight, Friday night’s drawing will definitely be larger than the current 13th-largest jackpot in Powerball history ($731.1 million) and who needs that kind of bad luck? 

So. Are you feeling lucky tonight?

Clearly, nobody won Monday night’s Powerball — numbers 18, 26, 49, 50, 54, and a red Powerball of 1. But a pair of ticket buyers — one in Florida, the other in Georgia — managed to hit all five white balls and take home $1 million each for their troubles.

Lottery Geeks estimates some 14.1 million tickets were sold for Monday’s drawing.

No 13s here

The Mega Millions jackpot is currently sitting at a hefty $463 million after nobody won Tuesday’s drawing, numbers 14, 19, 21, 45, 67, and a gold Mega Ball of 3. There were also no tickets that matched all five white balls.

Lottery Geeks estimates 6.1 million tickets were sold for Tuesday’s drawing.

Meanwhile, if someone wins Friday, they would take home the 22nd-biggest jackpot in Mega Millions history. Nothing unlucky there as far as we can see.

Tickets for Mega Millions cost $5 and Powerball tickets cost $2. Most states offer the multiplier option for Powerball, which impacts any prize won except the jackpot, for an additional $1. Mega Millions comes with an automatic multiplier for any prize except the jackpot.

Both Powerball and Mega Millions are legal in all states except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Tickets for both draw games are also sold in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico and the U.K., customers can buy tickets for Powerball, but not for Mega Millions.

All-time biggest jackpots

Here is a list of the all-time top 10 U.S. lottery jackpots:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $1.82 billion, Powerball, Dec. 24, 2025, won in Arkansas
3. $1.79 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025, won in Missouri and Texas
4. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
5. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
6. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
7. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
8. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
10. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon

Here is the all-time top 10 by lump-sum cash value:

1. $997.6 million, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $983.5 million, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
3. $877.8 million, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
4. $834.9 million, Powerball, Dec. 24, 2025, won in Arkansas
5. $820.6 million, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025, won in Missouri and Texas
6. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
7. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
9. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
10. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine