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The Powerball jackpot continues to grow at a staggering rate after another day without a grand prize winner.
In the drawing this Monday, December 15, there were no tickets that matched the six numbers needed to win the coveted jackpot, which has caused the total to now rise to $1.25 billion, with a cash option of $572.1 million.
The next opportunity to become a millionaire will be on Wednesday, December 17, when the next drawing takes place.
This new amount makes the current jackpot the sixth highest in Powerball history and the second highest of the year, only behind the colossal prize of 1.787 billion dollars won on September 6 by players in Missouri and Texas.
Recent results and minor awards
The winning numbers for the draw on December 15th were: 23 - 35 - 59 - 63 - 68 and Powerball: 2; with a Powerplay multiplier of 4x.
Despite the fact that no one won the jackpot, two tickets sold in Arizona and California correctly matched the five white balls, which awarded them a prize of 1 million dollars each.
Additionally, the drawing resulted in 43 winning tickets of $50,000 and 14 tickets of $200,000, thanks to the use of Powerplay, an additional option that allows for multiplying secondary winnings.
A historic streak of million-dollar accumulations
The current phenomenon is notable not only for the size of the jackpot but also for an unusual statistical fact: this is only the second time in Powerball's history that two consecutive jackpots have exceeded 1 billion dollars.
"Powerball has had only two instances of consecutive jackpots exceeding $1 billion, and this one comes just in time for the holidays," highlighted Matt Strawn, executive director of the Iowa Lottery and president of the Powerball Product Group.
In a statement, Strawn urged the players to exercise caution:
"While it is exciting to see the prize reach this level, remember to play responsibly. A single $2 ticket gives you a chance to win and, at the same time, supports good causes in your community."
A 2025 of great prizes
The year has been marked by several million-dollar awards.
On September 6, two lucky winners shared the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history, amounting to nearly $1.8 billion.
Other significant prizes include the $205 million won on May 31 in California, the $168 million from April 26 in Kentucky, the $526.5 million from March 29, and the $331 million from January 18.
How do you play Powerball?
To participate in Powerball, players must choose five numbers from 1 to 59 and one additional number, the Powerball, from 1 to 26. It is also possible to let the machine randomly select the numbers.
The prizes are divided into nine different categories, with the grand prize awarded for correctly guessing the five white balls and the red Powerball.
Payment options and ticket price
Those who win the grand prize can choose between two options to receive the money:
-Annuity: 30 graduated payments over 29 years.
- One-time cash payment: a single delivery of the current amount, in this case, 572.1 million dollars.
It is important to note that both amounts are before federal and state taxes.
The ticket costs $2 per play, and it can be increased to $3 if you include the Powerplay, which allows you to multiply smaller prizes (except the jackpot) by up to 10 times.
Powerball is played in 45 states in the U.S., as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The draws take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. ET in the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee.
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