Powerball Jackpot at Almost Half a Billion
If it's your dream to win the Powerball jackpot, now might be the time to play it. The prize money sits at $484 million, which is the biggest lottery prize of 2025 so far.
The last drawing was on Monday night, but no lucky winners yet. Whether you have your new ticket already or are grabbing before the next drawing, it's not too late to try to become a millionaire.
But what are your odds of winning? And if the odds are in your favor, how much prize money do you take home after taxes?
Monday Night's Drawing
On Monday night, 6, 23, 35, 36, 47, and Powerball 12 were the lucky numbers. The Powerplay was 2x. While no one was the big almsot half a billion prize, a ticket in Florida and a ticket in New Jersey matched every number except the Powerball, worth $1 million.
The Doubel Play numbers were 2, 54, 59, 65, 68, and Powerball was 3. Again, no tickets matched every number, however one ticket sold in Maryland matched all five numbers except the Powerball, worth $500,000.
In order to be a Powerball winner, you only need to match at least one number. But that one number needs to be the Powerball number, and it's worth $4. You can also win by matching more than one number.
Here's a breakdown:
All 5 numbers + Powerball = Grand Prize
All 5 numbers = $1 million ($2 million for 2x-10x play)
4 numbers + Powerball = $50,000 (2x = $100,000 ; 3x = $150,000 ; 4x = $200,000 ; 5x = $250,000 ; 10x = $500,000)
3 numbers + Powerball = $100 (2x = $200 ; 3x = $300 ; 4x = $400 ; 5x = $500 ; 10x = $1,000)
3 numbers = $7 (2x = $14 ; 3x = $21 ; 4x = 28 ; 5x = $35 ; 10x = $70)
2 numbers + Powerball = $7 (2x = $14 ; 3x = $21 ; 4x = 28 ; 5x = $35 ; 10x = $70)
1 number + Powerball = $4 (2x = $8 ; 3x = $12 ; 4x = 16 ; 5x = $20 ; 10x = $40)
Powerball = $4 (2x = $8 ; 3x = $12 ; 4x = 16 ; 5x = $20 ; 10x = $40)
Jackpot Payout After Taxes
One million dollars can be life-changing for anyone, let alone half a billion dollars. Although the prize money shows $484 million, the winner doesn't take home all of that. The lottery is taxed quite a bit.
Lottery winners can choose different options of payout - either a lump sum or spread out over 30 annualized payments.
If the winner chooses the lump sum payout, which is the most popular, a mandatory federal withholding fee of 24% would be applied - lowering the prize money to $173.35 million. Then, a federal marginal rate of 37% may take affect, lowering it even more to $143.7 million - which is still a big chunk of change.
If the winner choose annual installments, the yearly payment of about $16 million would turn into $10.2 million, provided the federal marginal rate is applied.
Depending on the winner's residence, they may also face more state taxes. For example, New York would tax 10.9%, but states like California, Texas, and Florida wouldn't require additional tax.
What Are Your Odds?
There's a reason they say you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lottery. It's because the odds are extremely low - much lower than a lightning strike.
To be exact, the odds of you winning the Powerball jackpot is about 1 in 292,201,338, while the odds of you getting struck by lightning is about 1 in 15,300. You might want to stay inside during the next storm.
Your chances become a little higher the less numbers you match, but it's still not exactly in your favor.
Here's a breakdown:
All 5 numbers + Powerball = 1 in 292,201,338
All 5 numbers except Powerball = 1 in 11,688,053.52
4 numbers + Powerball = 1 in 913,129.18
4 numbers = 1 in 36,525.17
3 numbers + Powerball = 1 in 14,494.11
3 numbers = 1 in 579.76
2 numbers + Powerball = 1 in 701.33
1 number + 1 Powerball = 1 in 91.98
Powerball number = 1 in 38.32
When is the Next Drawing?
A Powerball ticket costs $2, plus $1 if you want to add the Power Play for a chance to multiple the winnings, in exception of the jackpot. You can also add Double Play for another $1 for a chance to win $10 million.
The next Powerballl drawing is set for Wednesday, March 26th at 10pm EST. Ticket sales are cut off one to two hours before the drawing.