(NEXSTAR) — The Powerball jackpot continues to grow after no one won the big prize in Monday night’s drawing. The prize now stands at $1.7 billion (cash option $781.3 Million).
The winning numbers were: 36, 54, 18, 3 and 41 with a Powerball number of 7. The optional Power Play was 2x.
There were no $2 million winners, but $1 million winners were drawn in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York (2), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
The jackpot is now the fourth-largest in Powerball history, and the fourth-largest grand prize across both national lottery draw games.
- $2.04 billion: Nov. 7, 2022; California (Powerball)
- $1.787 billion: Sept. 6, 2025; Missouri, Texas (Powerball)
- $1.765 billion: Oct. 11, 2023; California (Powerball)
- $1.7 billion Estimated (Powerball)
- $1.602 billion: Aug. 8, 2023; Florida (Mega Millions)
- $1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida, Tennessee (Powerball)
- $1.537 billion: Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina (Mega Millions)
- $1.348 billion: Jan. 13, 2023; Maine (Mega Millions)
- $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022; Illinois (Mega Millions)
- $1.326 billion: April 6, 2024; Oregon (Powerball)
The jackpot has been growing since September when two tickets, one each sold in Missouri and Texas, split a $1.787 billion prize – the second-largest pot across Mega Millions and Powerball.
If you or anyone else wins the Powerball jackpot in Wednesday’s drawing, the payout will vary based on the state of residence. In only a handful of states would a jackpot winner actually become a billionaire, as long as they opt for the less-common payout method and don’t mind waiting three decades.
Before deciding on your payout option, experts recommend you do two things if you win the Powerball jackpot: sign the back of the ticket and keep your victory a secret for as long as possible.
You won’t be able to do the latter forever, depending on where you live, but it can help avoid conversations with friends, family, and people you hardly know who may be looking for a cut of the pot. Instead, experts suggest you build a team of people you can tell, like a financial advisor, a tax advisor, and a lawyer.
As long as you matched at least the red Powerball, your ticket is worth some money. Not including the grand prize, there are eight ways to win while playing Powerball.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The lottery game is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 each, with the Power Play option available in participating states for $1 more.