Powerball winning numbers drawing for Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Is today your lucky day?

The lottery jackpot was an estimated $117 million with a cash option of $53.4 million for Saturday night’s drawing, according to the Powerball website. 

The jackpot was last won on Dec. 7 when a New York lottery player won a $256 million Powerball jackpot.

Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot is at $1.15 billion for Tuesday’s drawing – the fifth largest ever – with a cash option of $516.1 million, according to the Mega Millions website. 

Winner: Man battling cancer won $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot; splitting money with wife, friend

What are the 12/25/24 winning Powerball numbers?

Here are the Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024:

15 – 26 – 27 – 30 – 35 and Powerball 3

Powerplay was 3x

Looking for an edge? These are the luckiest Powerball numbers

When is the next Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are held three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Monday drawings were added in 2021.

More: Here’s a look back at all 15 Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots won in 2023

How late can I buy Powerball tickets?

The deadline for purchasing Powerball ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. The deadline in New Jersey is 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing, while New York’s deadline is 10 p.m.

Click here is a complete list of Powerball ticket deadline times by state or jurisdiction.

Location, location, location: These are the states with the most Powerball jackpot winners

How do I play Powerball?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Power Play for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot and Match 5). There is also a 10x Power Play possibility when the jackpot is less than $150 million.

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a quick pick ticket with random numbers for you.

Prizes vary from $4 for the matching the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can check all the prize payouts on the Powerball website here.

Beware: No, a lottery jackpot winner isn’t giving you money. How to spot a scammer

Where is the Powerball available?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

More: What would you do if you won the Powerball lottery? Survey answers might surprise you

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. 

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Winner: New Jersey grandmother of 10 planning Disney trip after winning $1 million in Powerball

How can I watch Powerball drawing?

The Powerball drawing is broadcast live on the lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can watch the drawing by clicking here.

The drawing may be broadcast on a local television station in your market as well.

What are my odds of winning?

Playing the Powerball can be exciting, but just don’t go spending those millions before you win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 292,201,338-to-1.

The odds to match all five white balls are 11,688,053-to-1.

Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery

Lump sum or annuity?

The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.

The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.

The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades for all the money.

Can I win jackpot and remain anonymous?

In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn’t always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.  

In other states, a winner’s name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.

Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots

Here are the Top 10 jackpots since the Powerball lottery began in 1992:

1. $2.04 billion, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
2. $1.765 billion, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
3. $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
4. $1.326 billion, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
5. $1.08 billion, July 19, 2023: Won in California
6. $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
7. $768.4 million, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
8. $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
9. $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
10. $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland

What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?

Here’s a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
8. $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
9. $1.15 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27:
10. $1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
11. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
12. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
13. $842.4 million, Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
14. $810 million, Mega Millions, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
15. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
16. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
17. $754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
18. $731.1 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
19. $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
20. $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.