Third-Largest Jackpot in US History Up for Grabs
Lottery fever is sweeping the nation as the Powerball jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.8 billion for the upcoming drawing on Saturday, September 6, 2025. This colossal sum now ranks as the third-largest jackpot in United States lottery history. Should a single ticket match all six numbers, the winner will have the choice of a lump-sum cash payment estimated at a staggering $826.4 million before taxes.
The grand prize continued its relentless climb after no ticket matched the winning numbers in the Wednesday, September 3 drawing. The numbers drawn that night were the white balls 3, 16, 29, 61, 69, and the red Powerball 22, with a Power Play multiplier of 2x. The jackpot for that drawing stood at an estimated $1.4 billion.
A Record-Tying Winless Streak
The jackpot has been steadily growing for over three months, with the last grand prize being won on May 31, 2025. A single ticket sold in California claimed a $204.5 million prize in that drawing. Since then, the prize has rolled over 41 consecutive times, a winless streak that now officially ties the game’s record for the most drawings without a jackpot winner. According to a report from digitaltrendstoday.com, Saturday’s drawing will be the 42nd in this historic run.
This year has already seen four jackpot winners prior to the current streak:
- January 18: A player in Oregon won $328.5 million.
- March 29: A ticket won a $527 million jackpot.
- April 26: A winner from Kentucky claimed a $167.3 million prize.
- May 31: The last jackpot winner from California took home $204.5 million.
Millions Won Despite No Jackpot
While the top prize from the September 3 drawing went unclaimed, the night was not without major winners. More than 6.3 million tickets won cash prizes across the country. Fifteen tickets matched all five white balls to secure second-tier prizes of at least $1 million.
- $2 Million Winners: Four tickets, sold in Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming, matched all five white balls and had purchased the Power Play option, doubling their prize to $2 million each.
- $1 Million Winners: Eleven other tickets won the standard $1 million prize. These were sold in California (two), Colorado, Florida, Georgia (two), Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
How to Play and Your Chances
For those looking to try their luck, Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To play, you must select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Players can also opt for a “Quick Pick” to have their numbers randomly generated. For an additional $1 per play, participants can add the Power Play feature, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes. In some states, a “Double Play” add-on is also available for another $1, entering the player’s numbers into a separate drawing with a top cash prize of $10 million.
The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million. However, the overall odds of winning any prize are significantly better at 1 in 24.9. As excitement builds for the historic drawing, players are reminded to play responsibly.
