TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Powerball jackpot soared to an estimated $1.6 billion after Saturday’s drawing ended without a grand prize winner, marking the 46th consecutive drawing in the current jackpot cycle the longest streak in the game’s history.
The cash option for the prize is about $735 million, making it the fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever recorded.
The winning numbers from Saturday, Dec. 20, were 4, 5, 28, 52, 69, with a Powerball of 20 and a Power Play multiplier of 3x. No player matched all six numbers, though several secured significant secondary prizes.
Eight tickets matched the five white balls to win $1 million each, with winners in Michigan, California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio. Additional prizes ranged from $50,000 to $150,000.
Powerball drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and tickets cost $2 per play.
Players can add Power Play for an extra $1 to multiply non jackpot winnings up to 10 times, depending on the draw. Experts note that the increasing jackpot reflects both the difficulty of winning and consistent ticket sales.
The odds of winning the Powerball grand prize are roughly 1 in 292 million, while the overall chance of winning any prize is about 1 in 25.
“Massive jackpots like this are extremely rare, and the probability of a winner remains very low,” said Dr. Laura Simmons, a statistician at the University of Florida. “However, as jackpots grow, so does public participation, which often pushes the prize even higher.”
James Thornton, a gaming economist, added, “People are motivated by the possibility of life changing money. Every time the jackpot climbs, ticket sales increase, which fuels the next rollover.”
This $1.6 billion jackpot follows the $1.787 billion prize won in September 2025 in Missouri and Texas, the second-largest in US lottery history.
The largest Powerball jackpot remains $2.04 billion, claimed in California in November 2022. In 2023, two separate billion dollar jackpots were awarded in California.
Across the country, lottery retailers reported heavy traffic. Rosa Hernandez, who runs a convenience store in Orlando, Florida, said, “We’ve sold hundreds of tickets every hour.
Some people stick to their lucky numbers, while others choose Quick Picks randomly. It’s exciting to see so much interest.”
In Iowa, long time lottery player Britt Lewis said, “I know the odds are slim, but it’s fun to imagine winning. Everyone is talking about it.”
With Monday’s drawing complete and no grand prize winner confirmed as of Tuesday morning, the jackpot could continue to grow for the next scheduled Wednesday draw.
If unclaimed, it would set a record for the longest Powerball jackpot cycle in history.
Lottery officials continue to encourage responsible gaming and remind players to stay within personal spending limits.
The Powerball jackpot continues to capture national attention as it approaches historic heights. While the odds remain challenging, the allure of a billion dollar prize keeps millions of Americans eagerly participating in one of the nation’s most popular lotteries.
