Related videos:
The total for the grand prize of the Powerball lottery in the United States has reached a new record this year: 1 billion dollars.
The figure, confirmed after the drawing on this Wednesday, December 10, marks a milestone in the history of the game and ranks as the second highest prize of the year and the seventh highest since the creation of this lottery.
The winning numbers from the last drawing were: 10, 16, 29, 33, 69, and the Powerball 22.
Although no one won the grand prize, three tickets sold in Maryland, Michigan, and New Jersey won 1 million each for matching five out of the six numbers.
A millionaire jackpot after 40 drawings without a winner
The phenomenon behind this impressive total is due to a simple reason: no participant has guessed the winning combination in 40 consecutive draws.
The last time Powerball awarded its jackpot was in September 2025, when two tickets sold in Texas and Missouri shared $1.787 billion. Since then, interest in the game has been on the rise, along with the accumulated amount.
How can the prize be claimed?
If a participant guesses the winning combination in the next drawing, scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, they will be able to choose between two payment options:
-An estimated total of 461.3 million, available immediately.
-An annual payment for the total prize, 1,000 million dollars, divided into 30 annual installments.
Both options are subject to federal and state taxes, which can significantly reduce the net amount received.
Minimal probabilities, maximum expectations
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are incredibly low: 1 in 292.2 million, according to official figures.
However, the public's enthusiasm does not wane. On the contrary, the increase in the jackpot stimulates ticket sales across the country, which state lottery officials see as a positive development.
In fact, the increase in sales has direct impacts on public programs funded by the lottery, such as education, infrastructure, and health.
"When the boat grows, both the revenue and the funds allocated to social causes increase," state spokespeople noted to local media.
A national game… with exceptions
Powerball is available in 45 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
However, five states—Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada—do not participate. The reasons vary from legal restrictions, pressure from religious groups, to a lack of political will.
The ticket price is US$ 2, and the drawings take place three times a week: on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. (Miami time).
The largest prize in Powerball history was recorded in November 2022, when a single ticket won $2.04 billion.
The current total, although it does not reach that figure, has already exceeded one billion and could continue to grow if there is no winner on Saturday.
This would be the second major prize to exceed one billion in 2025, a year that, according to industry analysts, could be one of the most successful for U.S. lotteries.
Expectations and Advice for Players
Ahead of the upcoming drawing, the organizers advise participants to carefully check their tickets, keep them in a safe place, and verify all the numbers, as there are multiple smaller prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million.
Additionally, they remind that winners have the right to keep their identity confidential, according to the laws of the state where they purchased their ticket, and that they can seek legal and financial options before claiming their prize.
As highlighted by Powerball on its official website: "This is one of the most exciting moments of the year for millions of players. The current jackpot can not only change a life but also impact the local economy through the revenue generated."
Filed under: