Powerball Jackpot Reaches $1 Billion Mark

The jackpot built steadily for the first two and a half months, but has really exploded in the last couple of weeks amid a rush for tickets throughout the participating states and jurisdictions. It only passed the $500 million mark on October 19th, before jumping up to $591 million, $637 million, $715 million and then $822 million in the latest drawing.

More than 3.8 million prizes were paid out on Saturday, but nobody matched all the numbers and now a 10-figure prize will be up for grabs for the first time since January 2016.

On that occasion, the jackpot was won as soon as it topped $1 billion, with three lucky ticket holders splitting a record-breaking $1.586 billion prize. Go to the Biggest Winners page to find out all about the top 10 jackpots ever given away in Powerball.

Which State Will Win the Jackpot?

If there is a single ticket that matches all the numbers, it will be the largest individual win to have been seen in Powerball.

Your chances of winning are exactly the same regardless of where you play, so the scene of the $1 billion payout could be anywhere from California to Florida, or a smaller state such as Vermont or even the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Some states have historically enjoyed greater success. Indiana and Missouri currently top the standings, whereas several jurisdictions have yet to create their first jackpot winner.

The location where the winning ticket is sold will make a huge difference to the value of the final payout, as the rate of state tax varies so much from place to place. There is no state tax on lottery prizes in several states, but in others, such as Washington D.C., Maryland and New York, it can be more than 8 percent.

Go to the Tax Calculator to work out how much you would take home if you win $1 billion. You’ll have to decide whether to choose the full amount as an annuity over 29 years, or the reduced lump sum offer of around $497 million.

Another key factor for winners is whether they can stay anonymous or not. An increasing number of states now allow for big prizes to be claimed without the winner going public, even if they have to receive the money through a legal trust to be able to keep their identity private. However, many states still have Open Record laws, so the lotteries have no choice but to disclose the names and home towns of winners.

How to Win Powerball

To win the jackpot, you need to match all five main numbers from 1 to 69 and the Powerball from 1 to 26. It’s up to you whether you choose your own numbers or play a Quick Pick - the chances of winning are the same for both methods.

The only way to boost your odds of winning is to purchase more tickets. You can use the Powerball Checker to quickly compare multiple lines.

Monday night promises to be a spectacular draw with lots more prizes paid out, but it remains to be seen whether the jackpot will get won or roll again. Make sure to follow the numbers as they are drawn to find out what happens.