Powerball ticket-buying frenzy this week as game seeks to create billionaire
By Todd Northrop
This week lottery players across the United States will be pulling out all the stops to try and win Powerball, featuring one of the largest lottery jackpots in history, worth an estimated $1.09 billion.
The Powerball jackpot has been building for 39 consecutive drawings since the last winner on January 1, when one ticket from Michigan won a $842.4 million jackpot. The ticket was sold at the Food Castle in Grand Blanc, just south of Flint, and has not yet been claimed.
Monday night when there were no Powerball jackpot winners, the new jackpot for Wednesday's drawing was estimated at $1.09 billion, with a lump-sum cash option of $527.3 million. More than a half-billion dollars in cash!
For the 5th time in history, a Powerball jackpot has reached $1 billion. It is the 9th-largest lottery jackpot in US history, and the 12th-largest cash option ever offered. (See complete top 25 jackpot rankings for annuity and cash values below.)
Of course, any big winner (or winners) of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot will have to pay taxes on their prize, so the website USA Mega has a handy Powerball Jackpot Analysis page available to calculate the federal and state taxes that would be withheld upon payout. The feature calculates both the initial withholdings and the final tax burden due at the end of the year, and even can show taxes calculated for different IRS filing statuses.
Players looking for a nearby lottery retailer — or that out-of-the-way retailer with a smaller line — are encouraged to use Lottery Places, the only app for iOS, Android, and Windows that can locate the nearest lottery retailers in every jurisdiction that sells Powerball and Mega Millions. The helpful app can locate lottery stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, much of Canada, and the Caribbean.
Some states offer direct online sales, allowing players to bypass the store and purchase tickets from home. Players can see if they can play Powerball online by tapping the link. Depending on the physical location of the person, the link will either provide access via a licensed butler service or the official state lottery itself.
Butler services provide scanned copies of the purchased lottery tickets securely held on behalf of the customer. In the past, such lottery ticket services were used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. For example, the original estimate for Wednesday's drawing was $975 million, but by the time all the proceeds were counted just before draw-time, the jackpot had swelled to $1.026 billion — an increase of more than $51 million.
The winning numbers for Monday, April 1, 2024 were 19, 24, 40, 42, and 56, with Powerball number 23. The Power Play number was 2.
The Monday Double Play drawing results were 12, 15, 28, 30, and 39, with Powerball number 12. Double Play is a game option currently available in 22 states that lets you play your numbers in a second drawing for $1 per play, with a chance to win up to $10 million in cash. See How to Play Powerball at USA Mega for more information about Double Play.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Monday, 6 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Florida, 2 from Maryland, 1 from Minnesota, 1 from North Carolina, and 1 from Virginia.
None of the second-prize tickets was purchased with the Power Play option, which would have doubled their prize to $2 million if they purchased the $1 option.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, a second-prize win is doubled and any other non-jackpot prize is multplied by the Power Play number drawn that evening. A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts and the Powerball Double Play Prize Payouts pages at Lottery Post.
The official drawing videos can also be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega.
Power Play is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
Also in the Monday drawing, 64 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 11 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $100,000, and 12 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $14,157 this drawing.
Following the Monday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $64 million from its previous amount of $1.026 billion and the cash value was raised by $30.9 million from its previous amount of $496.4 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Wednesday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.
Powerball is played in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 9th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, and the 4th-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Brisk sales will almost certainly push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $1.7649 billion, Oct. 11, 2023 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023 (31 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maine
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $1.128 billion, Mar. 26, 2024 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $1.09 billion, Apr. 3, 2024 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $1.0798 billion, Jul. 19, 2023 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024 (34 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023 (33 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Washington
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 8
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Powerball jackpot ranks as the 12th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $794.2 million cash, Aug. 8, 2023 ($1.602 billion annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $774.1 million cash, Oct. 11, 2023 ($1.7649 billion annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $723.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.348 billion annuity) - Maine
- Powerball: $558.1 million cash, Jul. 19, 2023 ($1.0798 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Mega Millions: $536.6 million cash, Mar. 26, 2024 ($1.128 billion annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $527.3 million cash, Apr. 3, 2024 ($1.09 billion annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $425.2 million cash, Jan. 1, 2024 ($842.4 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $407.2 million cash, Feb. 6, 2023 ($754.6 million annuity) - Washington
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 8
I didn't buy tickets last night. wasn't sure which numbers. yet I was thinking my instincts not to play. interesting that it's not that high.
Haven't checked all my tickets yet.
Interesting an LP member commented on #23 for PB # and Mega ball coming in frequently...here we are again.
Played on-line around 3:30 this morning, however if I were to go to the store that doesn't start until 0500. Big blue self serve machines do it automatically. The ones the cashier's use have to be done manually.
Maybe they'll add another $100 to the kitty for tomorrow night.
Time to go shopping for a few tickets at various locations...Good luck to everyone participating tomorrow night.
Message from the # 23
Hello my name is 23 ... AKA the Powerball
You may recognize me
If I were a betting man er I meant to say number I wouldn't bet against me!
See you soon ....you may see me twice on one draw .... FEED ME
And by soon I mean real soon!
Bye for now but, Ill catch up with ya'll down the road
Sincerely,
The # 23
might wait till Saturday's drawing !!
Getting 5 lines on my lunch break!
The pool I am in played number 23 in the last two draw. We won $8 in both draws.
Playing again in the Wednesday draw and the plan is to play numbers 22, 23 and 24 for the Powerball number.
Goodbye 1995 Honda Accord. Hello 2024 Jaguar F-Type
I played with a couple people years ago. It's not even worth a pool.
MM is 45mil
Looks like people are taking their few bucks they won from Powerball and throwing it into the ring tonight for the MM draw.
Can we get 2-3 winners this tine and less 2nd prize? funny out of all these combinations, 1 tkt wins
maybe if it gets to 2.2b that may happen
" Can we get 2-3 winners this time, " brilliant suggestion " l will see what l can do, let me make a call.
$2,000,000
Already taken care of En.....Got between 10 -15 folks on the "to be shared with list"
"Can we get 2-3 winners this tine "
Probability says no. It takes sales of $405 million just to have any number of winners be as likely as a rollover, and at that point the chances of a single winner are about 2.2 times as likely as multiple winners. The last time that happened was in the last two drawings for the PB record back in November 2022. It takes sales of a hair over $734 million for multiple winners to be just as likely as a single winner. That has happened twice, in the last two drawings for the first jackpot of over $1 billion, back in January 2016. One had sales of $880 million which is just barely more than the $876.4 million that makes 2 or 3 winners equally likely. The next one has $1,27 billion in sales. 4 winners was the most likely result (19.26% chance), and there were 3 (17.73% chance). Those numbers are all based on combinations being selected randomly, but of course some combinations are played more often than random probability suggests because people are fond of calendar numbers, patterns and other things.
The way sales are now lower for a given jackpot size I think we'll need to get well past the $2 billion threshold before a single winner isn't more likely than multiple winners, unless the winning combination is one of the ones that's played more often. Calendar numbers on Wednesday night would be pretty likely to produce multiple winners.
And if you should happen to find yourself with the only winning ticket you can always find other people to share it with.
How did the MM grow so fast
It sure did ! I guess I'd better pick up one for that game also.
there computers set really tight,we buy 15 dollars worth,25 numbers and get about one number every time.
Someone gotta win hope it's lot winners to including me
good luck lot of 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
Beep! Beep!!
It's the # 23 again with a friendly reminder .. don't take me lightly ... I'll show up again I guarantee it . Just watch me!
Your friend forever
The # 23
I got my one PB ticket with PP.
I am ready for tonight and as usual, I check my ticket in the morning after the draw, I don't want to loose my precious sleep just because I won the jackpot 🤷🏾♂️
I found a PB QP ticket from 2018 and I played those numbers. So it's technically a QP, but if I win it will be that the player picked their own numbers 😁
A toast to good times and transforming lives.
Beep! Beep!
Nothing here folks .... and to think I had two tickets with the # 23 for the Powerball.
Oh well!
Now it's back to my liverwurst on rye with Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion and Dijon mustard accompanied by 3 gherkin pickles and a bowl of sweet potato chips ....... And to wash it all down ..... Sasparilla or birch beer or moxie.
Peace
The Shag
Had the 11 and the 62 on a single line of chosen numbers...but nothing else...
AND THE DARN THING ROLLED OVER ...AMAZING
Let the real games begin
The jackpot moves up a few spots on the cash value list tonight with an initial projection of $595.1 million for Saturday. I'll pick up five QPs.
It has rolled again, with no jackpot winner. The suspense, and buying frenzy grows!
19 and 62 on 2 different lines. Going to try a new method this time.