Powerball Soars To $437 Million For Saturday Night Drawing

Things are starting to get serious.

On Wednesday, for the 26th consecutive drawing, no one won the Powerball jackpot, pushing Saturday’s top prize to an estimated $437 million (with a $210.3 million cash value).

If someone takes it down Saturday, it would mark the 18th largest Powerball jackpot victory in history. Like we said, things are starting to get serious.

And while no one hit the jackpot Wednesday — the numbers drawn were 4, 30, 39, 44, and 60, with a red Powerball of 11 — four lucky players got all five white balls correct. Those winners — two from Illinois, and one each from California and Washington — won $1 million apiece before taxes.

Lottery Geeks estimates nearly 15.8 million tickets were sold for Wednesday’s drawing.

Mega closing in on $200M 

Though Powerball is deservedly attracting more attention right now, Mega Millions is continuing its climb as well, as no one won Tuesday’s drawing, pushing Friday’s jackpot to an estimated $185 million (with an $88.4 million cash option).

The winning numbers Tuesday were 22, 34, 44, 54, and 62, with a gold Mega Ball of 3. 

One person in Maryland hit the Match 5, winning $1 million before taxes.

Lottery Geeks estimates some 11.8 million tickets were sold for Tuesday’s draw.

Tickets for either lottery cost $2, with most states offering a multiplier option — Megaplier for Mega Millions, Power Play for Powerball — for an additional $1.

Both lotteries 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, while 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. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024, won in New Jersey
10. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023, won in California

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. $558.1 million, Powerball, July 19, 2023, won in California