WASHINGTON — The Powerball jackpot soared to $1.23 billion after no one won the top prize in Wednesday night's drawing.
Numbers were drawn for Powerball's $1.09 billion jackpot Wednesday, the fourth-largest prize in the lottery game's history.
The winning numbers were 11-38-41-62-65, Powerball 15 and Power Play 3X.
While no one hit the Powerball jackpot, tickets sold in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina and Washington all matched the five white ball numbers correctly and won $1 million each. California and Massachusetts had two $1 million tickets sold in each state.
The next drawing is Saturday night, which has a cash value of $595.1 million.
Powerball's grand prize first reached $1 billion less than a week after one lucky winner in New Jersey snagged a $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot on March 26.
No one has won Powerball's top prize since New Year's Day, amounting to 40 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. If no one wins Saturday, it would be the 41st drawing in the jackpot run - tying the record set in 2022 and 2021.
The game's long odds of 1 in 292.2 million makes it a rare jackpot. By making the top prizes hard to hit, jackpots can grow large and then attract more sales.
The grand prize is for a sole winner who chooses an annuity, paid over 30 years. Winners typically opt for the lump-sum cash option instead. The prizes would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.
Winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, April 3, 2024
The winning numbers for Wednesday's drawing were 11-38-41-62-65, Powerball 15 and Power Play 3X.
If a winner matches all five numbers and the Powerball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out over 30 years, or a smaller cash payout. Winners almost always take the cash option.
Even with the smaller lump sum payout, federal taxes will eat into those winnings, and some states also tax big lottery prizes. Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
When is the Powerball drawing?
The Powerball drawing takes place live at 10:59 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets, which cost $2 per play, are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
Over the past few years, huge lottery jackpots have become more common as lottery officials have changed the rules and ticket prices to boost top prizes.
Powerball's biggest change came in 2021 when officials decided to add a Monday drawing to its weekly lineup of Wednesday and Saturday evening drawings. At the time of the announcement, Powerball proclaimed the addition of the Monday drawing would lead to "larger, faster-growing jackpots."
What are the largest Powerball jackpots?
- $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA
- $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.23 Billion – April, 6, 2024 (estimated)
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI
- $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
- $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
- $754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA
- $731.1 Million – Jan. 20, 2021 – MD
What are the largest US lottery jackpots ever won?
- $2.04 billion: Powerball - Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.76 billion – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586 billion: Powerball – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.58 billion: Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – FLv
- $1.537 billion: Mega Millions – Oct. 23, 2018 - SC
- $1.35 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 13, 2023 - ME
- $1.337 billion: Mega Millions - July 29, 2022 - IL
- $1.23 Billion – April, 6, 2024 (estimated)
- $1.13 billion: Mega Millions - March 26, 2024 - NJ
- $1.08 billion: Powerball – July 19, 2023 – CA