Powerball Fever Sweeps Nation as Jackpot Soars to Historic $1.8 Billion

Historic Lottery Moment

The Powerball jackpot has reached a staggering $1.8 billion for Saturday night’s drawing, making it the second-biggest prize in U.S. lottery history. This mammoth sum is only surpassed by the world-record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in November 2022 in California.

Current Jackpot Details

The $1.8 billion figure represents the amount a winner could receive in 30 annual installments. The winning numbers for Saturday’s drawing are 11, 23, 44, 61, 62 with red Powerball of 17 and a Power Play multiplier of 2.

This drawing marks the 42nd since the jackpot was last claimed in California on May 31, setting a new record for the most consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner.

Winner Options and Tax Implications

Winners may choose between receiving their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment. Federal law requires a 24% withholding on lottery winnings over $5,000, with an additional 14.6% due at tax time, bringing the total federal tax to about 37%. Additionally, many states levy their own income tax on winnings, while some states don’t tax lottery prizes at all.

Recent Winners

While the jackpot remains unclaimed, Wednesday’s drawing produced 15 lucky players who matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize, with winners spread across multiple states including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and others.

How to Participate

Players can purchase $2 tickets in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some states offer online purchasing options through official channels or licensed services. For an additional dollar, players can add the Power Play option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to five times.