The Powerball numbers for Monday night’s drawing were announced, with 3, 18, 36, 41 and 54 drawn as the white balls and 7 as the red Powerball, according to officials.
The jackpot, estimated at $1.6 billion, is the fourth largest in Powerball history and the fifth largest in US lottery history.
Officials said it was not immediately clear if anyone matched all six numbers to claim the grand prize. The jackpot represents an estimated lump sum cash value of $735.3 million.
The current Powerball jackpot streak is the 46th consecutive drawing without a grand prize winner, the longest in the game’s history.
Powerball officials said no tickets matched all six winning numbers in Saturday’s drawing for an estimated $1.5 billion prize.
Powerball, which held its first drawing in 1992, is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Tickets cost $2 each, with drawings held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
A single jackpot winner can choose either a lump sum cash payment or an annuity consisting of one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by five percent each year.
Both options are subject to federal and state taxes, officials said. Lottery analysts said the surge in jackpot sizes reflects both growing ticket sales and increased public interest in multistate lotteries.
“We have seen a dramatic rise in jackpots over the past decade, which has only made the odds of winning feel more distant,” said Karen Mitchell, a gaming analyst with the National Lottery Association.
Mitchell added that while the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million, the excitement generated by record breaking prizes can significantly boost ticket sales.
“It becomes a cultural moment, not just a lottery draw,” she said.BFinancial advisors also caution players to consider the long term implications of sudden wealth.
“A $735 million lump sum payment sounds life-changing, but careful planning is crucial,” said Thomas Delgado, a certified financial planner in Los Angeles.
The last Powerball jackpot was hit on Sept. 6, when tickets in Missouri and Texas split a $1.787 billion prize. In 2022, a single ticket in Altadena, California, claimed the $2.04 billion jackpot, the largest in both Powerball and US lottery history.
Experts note that while jackpots have increased, the probability of winning has steadily decreased.
“The odds remain astronomically low, but the potential payout has never been higher,” said Mitchell. Other major lotteries, including Mega Millions, have seen similar trends in recent years.
In New York City, longtime lottery player Angela Rivera said she purchases tickets occasionally but remains realistic. “I know the odds are tiny, but a jackpot this big? You can’t help but dream,” she said.
In rural Iowa, store owner Mike Henderson said sales surged immediately after the jackpot climbed above $1 billion. “People are lining up every morning. Even small towns feel the excitement when it’s this huge,” he said.
Powerball officials said the jackpot will continue to grow if no winner emerges, potentially breaking additional records.
Analysts predict continued public fascination and high ticket sales, driven by both the record setting size and media coverage.
Monday night’s Powerball drawing has produced a historic $1.6 billion jackpot, with no immediate winner confirmed.
As the odds of claiming the grand prize remain slim, millions of Americans continue to participate, hoping for a life changing win.
The draw reflects both the enduring popularity of multistate lotteries and the growing scale of U.S. lottery jackpots.
