WASHINGTON, USA — A Powerball ticket in California took home Wednesday night's eye-popping $1.765 billion jackpot.
The prize was the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history, just behind the record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot last November.
More than 30 drawings had gone by without a grand prize winner. The last time someone won the top prize was on July 19.
This was also the first time in the game's history that back-to-back cycles have generated billion-dollar prizes, according to Powerball.
The winner has the option to take the full jackpot paid out over 30 years, or a smaller cash payout. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Wednesday was $756.6 million.
Nine tickets almost scored the big jackpot on Wednesday night. Seven tickets in California, Florida, New York, Oklahoma and Virginia won $1 million after matching five white balls.
A pair of tickets in Arizona and Pennsylvania also matched five white balls and took home $2 million thanks to the Power Play.
Even with the smaller lump sum payout, federal taxes will eat into those winnings, and some states also tax big lottery prizes. Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What were the winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, October 11, 2023?
The winning numbers are 24-52-40-22-64 Powerball 10 and 2X Power Play.
Where was the winning Powerball ticket sold?
A ticket in California matched all five white balls and the Powerball to win the $1.765 jackpot on Wednesday night. The winning ticket was sold at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, according to the California Lottery.
When is the Powerball drawing?
The Powerball drawing takes place live at 10:59 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets, which cost $2 per play, are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What are my chances of winning the Powerball?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
Over the past few years, huge lottery jackpots have become more common as lottery officials have changed the rules and ticket prices to boost top prizes.
Powerball's biggest change came in 2021 when officials decided to add a Monday drawing to its weekly lineup of Wednesday and Saturday evening drawings. At the time of the announcement, Powerball proclaimed the addition of the Monday drawing would lead to "larger, faster-growing jackpots."
What are the largest Powerball jackpots?
- $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.73 Billion (est.) – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
- $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
- $754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA
- $731.1 Million – Jan. 20, 2021 – MD
- $699.8 Million – Oct. 4, 2021 – CA
- $687.8 Million – Oct. 27, 2018 – IA, NY
What are the largest US lottery jackpots ever won?
- $2.04 billion: Powerball - Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.73 Billion (est.) – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586 billion: Powerball – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.58 billion: Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – FL
- $1.537 billion: Mega Millions – Oct. 23, 2018 - SC
- $1.35 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 13, 2023 - ME
- $1.337 billion: Mega Millions - July 29, 2022 - IL
- $1.08 billion: Powerball – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $1.05 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 22, 2021 - MI
- $768.4 million – March 27, 2019 – WI