WASHINGTON — Powerball offered lottery players a chance to earn more than $700 million just days before the new year begins, but no one hit the jackpot Wednesday night.
Hours before Wednesday evening's drawing, the jackpot surged to the ninth-largest prize in Powerball history. The jackpot at the time of the drawing was announced as $707.2 million prize.
The winning numbers for Wednesday's jackpot drawing were 4-11-38-51-68 and Powerball 5, with a Power Play 3. The cash option, which most winners choose, was an estimated $355.9 million.
While no one hit the jackpot, a ticket in California won $1 million dollars for matching all five regular numbers. Another winner in Texas selected the more expensive Power Play option and matched all five white ball numbers too, meaning they'll take home $2 million.
With no grand prize winner Wednesday night, the jackpot is up to an estimated $760 million for Saturday's drawing - the last Powerball drawing of 2023. That would be the sixth-largest Powerball jackpot in history.
“This Powerball jackpot is climbing the charts and it’s anyone’s guess whether our next big winner will be made in 2023 or the New Year,” Powerball Product Group Chair Drew Svitko said in a statement. “This is a fun time to get into the game, especially over the holidays when you can dream big with family and friends."
The lottery game hasn't seen a jackpot winner since Oct. 11, when a single ticket in California took home the $1.76 billion prize. The prize is currently the fourth Powerball jackpot to topple the half-a-billion dollar mark this year.
What were the winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, December 27, 2023?
The winning numbers are 4-11-38-51-68 and Powerball 5, with a Power Play 3.
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, which for Wednesday was $355.9 million.
The streak without a jackpot winner is due to the game's long odds, 1 in 292.2 million, that are designed to make winning rare so grand prizes can grow large.
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 my chances 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
- $1.76 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $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
- $707.2 Million (est.) – Dec. 27, 2023
- $687.8 Million – Oct. 27, 2018 – IA, NY
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 – FL
- $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
- $1.08 billion: Powerball – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $1.05 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 22, 2021 - MI
- $768.4 million – March 27, 2019 – WI