Powerball: Jackpot rises to $760 million

As 2023 draws to a close, the Powerball jackpot continues to rise. No one picked all six numbers in Wednesday’s drawing, meaning that Saturday’s jackpot will be worth an estimated $760 million — the sixth highest in the promotion’s history.

>> Read more trending news

The numbers drawn Wednesday were 4-11-38-51-68 and the Powerball was 5. The multiplier was 3X.

Update 12:02 a.m. EST Dec. 28: No one picked all six numbers in Wednesday’s drawing, and the Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $760 million. That is the sixth-largest amount in the promotion’s history.

If someone should choose all six numbers in Saturday’s drawing, they will have two options: An annuity, in which the winner receives one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year, or the lump sum option. Choosing the second option will make the cash value amount approximately $382.5 million before applicable taxes, lottery officials said.

One ticket sold in Texas matched five numbers and the Power Play option, giving the winner a $2 million payday. One ticket sold in California matched five numbers and was worth $1 million.

The last winning Powerball jackpot ticket was sold on Oct. 11 in California and was worth $1.765 billion. Since then, there have been 33 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner.

Top 10 Powerball jackpots

• $2.04 billion – Nov. 7, 2022 (One ticket from California).
• $1.75 billion – Oct. 11, 2023 (One ticket from California).
• $1.586 billion – Jan. 13, 2016 (Three tickets from California, Florida and Tennessee).
• $1.08 billion – July 19, 2023, drawing (One ticket from California).
• $768.4 million – March 27, 2019 (One ticket from Wisconsin).
• $760 million (estimated) – Next drawing Dec. 30, 2023.
• $758.7 million – Aug. 23, 2017 (One ticket from Massachusetts).
• $754.6 million – Feb. 6, 2023 (One ticket from Washington).
• $731.1 million – Jan. 20, 2021 (One ticket from Maryland).
• $699.8 million – Oct. 4, 2021 (One ticket from California).

Powerball jackpots won in 2023

• Feb. 6 – $754.6 million (Ticket sold in Washington).
• March 4, 2023 – $162.6 million (Ticket sold in Virginia).
• April 19, 2023 – $252.6 million (Ticket sold in Ohio).
• July 19, 2023 – $1.08 billion (Ticket sold in California).
• Oct. 11, 2023 – $1.765 billion (Ticket sold in California).

Original report: “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,” Drew Svitko, Powerball Product Group Chair and the executive director of the Pennsylvania Lottery, said in a news release. “This is a fun time to get into the game, especially over the holidays when you can dream big with family and friends. Please, remember to play responsibly. It only takes one ticket to win.”

If someone should choose all six numbers in Wednesday’s drawing, they will have two options: An annuity, in which the winner receives one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year, or the lump sum option. Choosing the second option will make the cash value amount approximately $352.3 million before applicable taxes, lottery officials said.

The last winning Powerball ticket was sold on Oct. 11 in California and was worth $1.765 billion. Since then, there have been 32 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner.

Drawings are held 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.

The odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball.com.