Powerball jackpot nears $1 billion mark at estimated $950 million after no one won grand prize of roughly $850 million

The Powerball jackpot is approaching the $1 billion mark for Saturday night’s drawing.

It’s at an estimated $950 million after no tickets came up winners for Wednesday night’s jackpot of roughly $850 million — the game’s sixth-largest ever at the time. Those winning numbers were 9, 12, 22, 41, 61 with a Powerball of 25.

The estimated cash value of Saturday night’s pot of gold is $428.9 million. Wednesday’s had an estimated cash value of $383.7 million, Powerball said.  All the totals are before taxes are taken out. Jackpots can grow as more and more tickets are gobbled up.

The $950 million grand prize would also rank as Powerball’s sixth-biggest ever — behind the last one to top $1 billion — the $1.08 billion that was won on July 19, 2023, in California. 

“Powerball ticket sales have doubled in the past week, as more players join the fun with a $2 ticket, while also giving back to good causes in their communities,” Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group chair and Iowa Lottery CEO said ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing.

A single jackpot winner would have the choice of taking a lump sum payment or opting for a payout via an annuity that would consist of one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year.

No one has won Powerball’s jackpot since May 31, when a single ticket in California claimed a $204.5 million jackpot with a cash value of $91.6 million.

The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball. Drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m. ET. 

In 2022, a single ticket sold in Altadena, California, claimed a $2.04 billion jackpot, the largest in both Powerball and lottery history. The first Powerball drawing was in 1992. 

Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.