Nation Awaits Winner for Third-Largest Jackpot in US History
The winning numbers have been drawn for the colossal $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot, the third-largest prize in U.S. lottery history. The highly anticipated drawing took place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, captivating millions of hopeful players across the country. As lottery officials verify tickets, the nation holds its breath to see if a winner has emerged.
Saturday’s Winning Numbers
The winning numbers for the Saturday, September 6, drawing were:
- White Balls: 11, 23, 44, 61, 62
- Red Powerball: 17
- Power Play Multiplier: 2x
The grand prize carries an estimated annuitized value of $1.8 billion. A potential winner would face the choice between receiving this amount in 30 graduated payments over 29 years or opting for a single lump-sum cash payment of approximately $826.4 million before taxes. As of the time of this report, official results on whether there was a jackpot-winning ticket were still pending.
A Record-Tying Journey to $1.8 Billion
The massive prize is the result of a long winless streak that has now tied a game record. Saturday night’s event was the 42nd drawing in the current jackpot run, which has been steadily growing for over three months. The last time the Powerball jackpot was won was on May 31, 2025, when a single ticket sold in California claimed a prize worth an estimated $204.5 million.
The jackpot officially crossed the billion-dollar threshold after the Labor Day drawing on Monday, September 1, and continued to swell after the Wednesday, September 3, drawing for a $1.4 billion prize failed to produce a winner. The winning numbers for that drawing were 3, 16, 29, 61, and 69, with a Powerball of 22.
Millions Won in Previous Drawing
While the grand prize from the September 3 drawing went unclaimed, the night was not without major winners. According to a report from digitaltrendstoday.com, more than 6.3 million tickets won cash prizes, including 15 tickets that 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 Powerball
For those looking to try their luck, Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The game is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Tickets: A standard Powerball ticket costs $2 per play.
- Number Selection: Players 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.
- Add-On Features: For an additional $1 per play, you can add the Power Play option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes. Some states also offer a Double Play add-on for another $1, which enters your numbers into a separate drawing with a top cash prize of $10 million.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million. However, the overall odds of winning any prize are significantly better at 1 in 24.9. If no winner is announced for Saturday’s drawing, the jackpot will roll over once again for the next drawing on Monday, September 8, 2025, likely pushing the grand prize to an even more astronomical sum.
