Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $298 Million Ahead of Saturday Drawing: Winning Numbers and What to Know
No ticket matched all six numbers Wednesday, so the Powerball jackpot has rolled over to an estimated $298 million for Saturday, Sept. 19. The cash option is $127.2 million.
The advertised jackpot is an annuity; the cash option is the smaller lump-sum amount. Jackpot estimates can also shift before a drawing as ticket sales rise.
The larger prize comes just weeks after an Illinois player won a $1.040 billion jackpot and stepped forward to claim one of the biggest Powerball prizes in lottery history. The rollover has renewed attention on the game, even though the current jackpot remains well below the record payouts that have made Powerball a national spectacle.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday night's drawing.
Lottery wins can also carry personal stories. Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney of Wisconsin agreed years ago to split future lottery winnings. Cook followed through on that promise when he won a $22 million prize on June 10, 2020.
More: Which Powerball numbers should you pick?
USA TODAY will post the winning Powerball numbers after the drawing, which takes place at approximately 10:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Monday, Sept. 21, at around 10:59 p.m. ET. The drawing can be watched live on Powerball's website, and players can rewatch clips on its YouTube channel.
Powerball drawings occur every week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Lottery luck: Is there a lottery curse? We tracked 31 Powerball winners to find out
The largest Powerball jackpots to date include:
- $2.040 billion on Nov. 7, 2022, in California
- $1.817 billion on Dec. 24, 2025, in Arkansas
- $1.787 billion on Sept. 6, 2025, in Missouri and Texas
- $1.765 billion on Oct. 11, 2023, in California
- $1.586 billion on Jan. 13, 2016, in California, Florida and Tennessee
- $1.326 billion on April 6, 2024, in Oregon
- $1.080 billion on July 19, 2023, in California
- $1 billion on Aug. 12, 2026, in Illinois
- $842.4 million on Jan. 1, 2024, in Michigan
- $768.4 million on Mar. 27, 2019, in Wisconsin
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To play, select five white-ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Players can also add Power Play for an additional $1 to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
Those who prefer not to pick their own numbers can choose a Quick Pick, which allows the lottery terminal to select numbers at random.
To win the jackpot, a ticket must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.
If no ticket wins the jackpot, the prize continues to grow for the next drawing.
You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball. Anyone who is physically present in a participating jurisdiction may purchase a ticket from a licensed retailer if they meet the legal age requirement, which is typically 18.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball jackpot hits $298M tonight. See the winning numbers