In a historic moment for U.S. lotteries, two Powerball tickets—one sold in Missouri and one in Texas—matched all six numbers in the Saturday, September 6, 2025, drawing, splitting a staggering $1.787 billion jackpot, the second-largest in American lottery history. The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and the red Powerball 17, with a Power Play multiplier of 2X. This massive win, following a 42-drawing jackpot run, captivated players nationwide, from small-town convenience stores to bustling urban retailers, all chasing the life-changing prize.
The jackpot climbed to $1.787 billion after final ticket sales, surpassing projections due to a surge in purchases across the 45 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands where Powerball is played. This figure places it just behind the record $2.04 billion jackpot won in California on November 7, 2022. “Congratulations to our newest Powerball jackpot winners and the Missouri Lottery and Texas Lottery for selling the winning tickets,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Each $2 ticket sold during this Powerball jackpot run gave players a chance at the prize, while also supporting vital public programs and services in their communities—and that’s worth celebrating!”
Each winner can choose between an annuitized prize of $893.5 million, paid as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments increasing by 5% yearly, or a lump sum of $410.3 million. Both options are pre-tax, with federal taxes and state taxes—where applicable—reducing the final amount. Texas, notably, has no state income tax, potentially allowing its winner to keep more of the prize, while Missouri imposes a 4% state tax on lottery winnings.
The September 6 drawing marked the end of Powerball’s longest-ever jackpot run, spanning 42 drawings since a $559.7 million prize was claimed in California on May 31, 2025. Nationwide, the game generated over 9.9 million winning tickets in this drawing alone, ranging from $4 for matching the red Powerball to substantial secondary prizes. Eighteen tickets matched all five white balls, each securing $1 million. These were sold in California (2), Colorado, Florida, Illinois (2), Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York (2), Ohio (2), Oregon, Texas (2), and West Virginia. California’s prizes, determined by pari-mutuel rules based on sales and winners, may differ from the standard $1 million awarded elsewhere.
Two tickets—one in Kansas and one in Texas—matched the five white balls and included the $1 Power Play option, doubling their prize to $2 million. Additionally, 232 tickets won $50,000 for matching four white balls plus the Powerball, while 90 tickets with Power Play claimed $100,000. The Double Play add-on, a $1 feature offered in many states, produced two $500,000 winners in Florida and Maine for matching all five black balls in a separate drawing held after the main Powerball event at 10:59 p.m. ET in Tallahassee, Florida.
Powerball’s appeal lies not only in its jackpots but also in its contributions to public programs. Since 1992, the game has generated over $36 billion for causes like education, infrastructure, and health services in participating jurisdictions. Each $2 ticket funnels more than half its proceeds back to the state or territory where it was sold, funding local initiatives from school programs to public safety.
With the jackpot now reset to $20 million for the Monday, September 8 drawing, players nationwide are gearing up for the next chance. The 10X Power Play multiplier, available when the jackpot is below $150 million, could amplify non-jackpot prizes significantly. Drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, broadcast live from Florida and streamed on Powerball.com. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, while the overall chance of winning any prize is 1 in 24.9.
Lottery officials urge players to check tickets carefully, as smaller prizes often go unclaimed. Deadlines for claiming non-jackpot prizes vary by state, typically ranging from 90 days to one year. The top ten Powerball jackpots underscore the game’s history of creating instant millionaires and billionaires, with this $1.787 billion win joining an elite list led by the $2.04 billion California prize in 2022.
