Massive Powerball Lottery Jackpot Rises to $1.7 Billion in Historic Christmas Eve Drawing
On Christmas Eve, Powerball lottery ticketholders will have a chance to win a historic $1.7 billion jackpot. Who won the Powerball lottery jackpot on December 24? What are the winning numbers?
"Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee," the Powerball website says. You can watch the drawing and find out the winning numbers at that time here.
How unusual is so large a prize? "Wednesday’s jackpot ranks as the fourth largest in Powerball history and among U.S. lottery games," the lottery revealed in a press release. "No ticket matched all six numbers drawn last night (December 20), pushing the jackpot to an estimated $1.70 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing (December 24). The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $781.3 million," the Powerball lottery says.
What Are the Odds of Having the Winning Powerball Numbers?
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
According to the Powerball lottery, the jackpot "has been won once on Christmas Eve (2011) and four times on Christmas Day (1996, 2002, 2010 and 2013)."
The odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 292,201,338.00, according to the Powerball's website. There are also other prizes. The odds to win $1 million are 1 in 11,688,053.52, the website says.
“Much like the holidays, Powerball is a game that brings people together to dream big and hope for a brighter future,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, in the news release. “We hope this growing jackpot inspires excitement and joy, and, most importantly, good will to all. A portion of every ticket helps support programs and services that benefit local communities.”
- Wednesday’s Powerball drawing "will be the 47th in the current jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle," the lottery wrote.
- "The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize."
If a player wins the jackpot on Christmas Eve, they :will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.70 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $781.3 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year," the lottery says.
Where Can You Play the Powerball?
The lottery exists in most states. "Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands," notes the Powerball's website. "More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries."
What were the last Powerball jackpot numbers? The numbers on December 22 were 3-18-36-41-54 and the Powerball was 7. The Power Play was 2x.
In September, winners in Missouri and Texas split a $1.787 billion jackpot. A person in Oregon won $1.326 billion in 2024. In 2023, two people in California became billionaires through the Powerball lottery. California posted another billion-dollar winner in 2022.