Powerball Jackpot Soars to Record-Breaking $785 Million
Lottery players across the United States are in for another chance to win big as the Powerball jackpot skyrockets to a historic $785 million. This staggering prize became the fourth largest in history after the Saturday drawing failed to produce any winners matching all six drawn numbers.
The winning numbers for the Saturday drawing were white balls 1, 12, 20, 33, and 66, with the red Powerball being 21. Though no one claimed the grand prize, over 1.5 million winning tickets were sold across the country, including three tickets that matched all five white balls, earning their owners $1 million each.
This unprecedented $785 million jackpot now ranks only behind previous jackpots over $1 billion, making it a record-breaking feat. The top three largest Powerball jackpots in history were $2.04 billion in November 2022, $1.586 billion in January 2016, and $1.08 billion in July 2023, with all three of these colossal winnings having included at least one lucky jackpot winner from California, according to lottery officials.
With no grand prize winner in the past 28 consecutive drawings since the $1.08 billion jackpot on July 19, excitement is building as lottery enthusiasts prepare for the next drawing. The fortunate winner of Monday night’s Powerball drawing will have the option to receive the massive prize in the form of $785 million in payments or to cash out for $367 million, both amounts being before taxes.
However, the odds of winning the jackpot remain astronomical, standing at 1 in 292.2 million, as stated by lottery officials. Nevertheless, with the stakes at an all-time high, Powerball players across the nation are eagerly awaiting the next drawing in hopes of becoming the lucky winner to walk away with a life-changing fortune.