The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $515 million for Saturday night’s drawing, marking the largest prize of 2025 so far. With a cash value of $238.4 million, the jackpot has been growing since an Oregon player claimed $328.5 million on Jan. 18, fueling anticipation across the 45 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands where tickets are sold.
Wednesday’s drawing on March 26 failed to produce a jackpot winner, but three players—in California, the District of Columbia, and New York—matched all five white balls (5, 20, 29, 39, 53) to win $1 million each. The red Powerball was 6, and the 3X Power Play multiplier boosted non-jackpot prizes for some. In California, where payouts are pari-mutuel based on sales and winners, the prize amount may vary slightly, according to the California Lottery’s official site.
Saturday’s winner, if there is one, will face a choice: an annuitized $515 million paid over 30 years with one immediate payment followed by 29 annual installments increasing 5% each year, or a lump sum of $242.7 million. Both options are pre-tax figures, as noted by the Multi-State Lottery Association, which oversees Powerball. Federal taxes typically claim 24% of prizes over $5,000, with additional state taxes varying by jurisdiction.
The jackpot’s steady climb reflects a dry spell since January’s Oregon win, the first major payout of the year. That ticket, sold in Portland, ended a run that began after the previous jackpot in late 2024. Now, with no top-tier winner in over two months, the prize has ballooned past the half-billion mark, drawing renewed interest as players chase the 1-in-292.2-million odds of hitting all six numbers.
Powerball tickets remain $2 per play, with drawings held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. ET, broadcast live from the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee and streamed on Powerball.com. The game’s overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9 million, offering multiple tiers from $4 up to the jackpot. Since its inception in 1992, Powerball has raised over $32 billion for state-supported causes, such as education and infrastructure, with more than half of ticket proceeds staying in the jurisdiction of sale.
Wednesday’s near-misses highlight the game’s appeal beyond the jackpot. The three $1 million winners join a growing list of secondary prize claimants this year, though the grand prize continues to elude players. In 2024 alone, Powerball awarded over $2.7 billion in prizes nationwide, per the lottery’s annual report.
As Saturday approaches, lottery officials expect a surge in ticket sales, particularly in high-traffic states like California and New York. The deadline to purchase tickets varies by jurisdiction, typically one to two hours before the 10:59 p.m. ET draw. Whether the jackpot rolls again or finds a home, the game’s next chapter unfolds this weekend.
