From ‘Conclave’ To Cash It: Powerball Soars To Over $200 Million

You probably could’ve gotten plus-money odds if you said a movie about electing the Pope would have 2024’s — OK, mild kinda-sorta spoiler here — biggest twist ending, but here we are.

Yes, we’re talking about Conclave, which Variety reports just passed the $100 million worldwide box office mark, a big number for an adult thriller these days. It also recently won the BAFTA for best film, and over at DraftKings — which is Jackpocket’s corporate parent — it’s a +550 bet to take home the Oscar for Best Picture.

So yes, the box office is over $100 million — which is almost exactly what you could win (in cash, before taxes) if you hit all five numbers and the Powerball Saturday night, where the estimated jackpot is sitting at $215 million, or a $99.3 million cash value.

Winning that kind of money is certainly a “twist ending” that would be welcomed by just about anyone, once and future Popes probably included.

Nobody won Wednesday night’s drawing — numbers 6, 21, 28, 49, 60, and a red Powerball of 20 — though one ticket-buyer in Florida matched all five numbers and won themselves a million dollars. 

Lottery Geeks estimates 9 million tickets were sold for Wednesday’s drawing.

Mega Millions smaller, but selling better

Mega Millions’ Friday jackpot is up to an estimated $165 million, with a $75.1 million cash value, after nobody won Tuesday night’s drawing.

Those numbers were 1, 20, 25, 58, 61, and a gold Mega Ball of 22.

There were no Match 5 winners, and Lottery Geeks estimates 10 million tickets were sold for Tuesday’s drawing.

Tickets for either lottery cost $2, with most states offering the multiplier option — which impacts any prize won except the jackpot — for an additional $1.

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, 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. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
3. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
4. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
5. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
6. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
7. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
9. $1.22 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, won in California
10. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024, won in New Jersey

And here’s 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. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
5. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
6. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
7. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
8. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $621 million, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
10. $571.9 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, won in California