The Powerball lottery jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1 billion for the Saturday, December 13, 2025, drawing, marking the second time this year the prize has hit the billion-dollar mark and setting up one of the game's most anticipated events. This surge follows no grand prize winner in the Wednesday, December 10, drawing, extending a lengthy rollover streak and fueling widespread excitement across the nation.
According to official announcements from the Multi-State Lottery Association, which operates Powerball, the jackpot carries a lump-sum cash option of approximately $461.3 million before taxes. Winners can alternatively choose an annuity paid out over 30 years with annual increases. If claimed, this $1 billion prize would rank as the seventh-largest jackpot in Powerball history.
The current jackpot run began after the last win on September 6, 2025, when two tickets—one in Missouri and one in Texas—split a $1.787 billion prize, which stands as the second-largest in Powerball history. That drawing ended a previous rollover, but the prize has since grown steadily over 41 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner heading into Wednesday's draw. Saturday's event will mark the 42nd drawing in this cycle, tying the record for the longest jackpot run in the game's history—a streak previously matched in 2024 when an Oregon ticket won $1.3 billion after 41 rollovers.
In the December 10 drawing, no ticket matched all six numbers: white balls 10, 16, 29, 33, 69, and red Powerball 22 (with a 3X Power Play multiplier). However, three tickets sold in Maryland, Michigan, and New Jersey each matched the five white balls to win $1 million prizes. These secondary wins highlight that while the grand prize remains elusive, smaller rewards are still distributed regularly.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each and are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, broadcast live from the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee and streamed on the official Powerball website. Players select five white balls from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball from 1 to 26. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, while the overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 24.9.
This billion-dollar milestone underscores Powerball's tendency to produce massive prizes, especially after matrix changes in 2015 that lengthened jackpot odds but increased potential rollover sizes. 2025 has proven particularly lucrative for the game, with the September $1.787 billion win already making it a standout year. The current $1 billion prize is the 14th U.S. lottery jackpot (across Powerball and Mega Millions) to reach or exceed that threshold.
Experts note that large jackpots drive ticket sales, creating a feedback loop where higher prizes attract more players, further boosting the pot. Despite the long odds, participation surges during these events, with retailers reporting brisk sales. For context, the record Powerball jackpot remains $2.04 billion, won by a single ticket in California on November 7, 2022.
As Saturday approaches, lottery officials encourage responsible play, reminding participants that proceeds fund public programs in participating jurisdictions, including education and other initiatives. The drawing can be watched live, and results are posted promptly on official channels.
This development has captured national attention, with media outlets highlighting the life-changing potential of the prize amid economic discussions. While no one has claimed the top prize yet in this run, the extended streak has built anticipation, mirroring past cycles that led to historic wins.
