Powerball jackpot grows to estimated $1.8 billion for Saturday night's drawing

The Powerball jackpot is now a whopping $1.8 billion for Saturday's drawing, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner on Wednesday.

Saturday's Powerball jackpot now ranks as the second-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, only behind the world record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California on Nov. 7, 2022.

The cash value is now up to $826.4 million, according to Powrerball.

"Excitement is building as players look forward to tomorrow night's drawing for this historic jackpot," said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. "We encourage everyone to play responsibly and take pride in knowing that every $2 ticket also helps support good causes in their community."

The numbers selected on Wednesday were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.

The jackpot remains untouched, however, nationwide 11 tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.

Of $1 million-winning tickets two were sold in California, one in Colorado, one in Florida, two in Georgia, one in Illinois, one in Maryland, one in Minnesota, one in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania.

There were also 117 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 36 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.

Saturday's drawing will be the 42nd since the Powerball jackpot was last won on May 31, 2025, in California. The current streak has tied the game's record for the most consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. The only other Powerball jackpot run to reach 42 drawings ended on April 6, 2024, with a $1.326 billion jackpot won in Oregon.

Powerball's terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game's many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.

Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.