The Powerball jackpot continues its magnificent climb, now soaring to an estimated $1.25 billion after Monday night’s drawing produced no lucky winners. As one of the sixth-largest jackpots in Powerball history, this massive prize pool gives millions of players another chance to dream big at Wednesday’s upcoming drawing.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Jackpot Amount: $1.25 billion estimated for Wednesday, December 17, 2025
- Monday’s Result: No jackpot winner claimed the grand prize from the December 15 drawing
- Historical Rank: Sixth-largest Powerball jackpot ever in the game’s history
- Drawing Schedule: Powerball draws every Monday and Wednesday at 10:59 PM ET nationwide
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After Monday’s December 15, 2025 drawing produced no jackpot winners, the prize pool continued its jackpot rollover, creating enormous excitement for Wednesday night’s drawing. The winning numbers from Monday were 23, 35, 59, 63, and 68 with a Powerball of 2.
While no one matched all six numbers, the Powerball lottery did produce other winners across different prize tiers. Two tickets in Pennsylvania and North Carolina each won the $1 million second-tier prize by matching the five white balls without the Powerball. The Power Play multiplier was 4X for Monday’s drawing.
How to Win and What the Odds Really Are
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Playing Powerball is straightforward but the odds are astronomically high. Players select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. To win the jackpot, all six numbers must match exactly.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are exactly 1 in 292.2 million. However, the overall odds of winning any prize are much better at 1 in 24.87. Smaller prizes range from $4 for matching just the Powerball up to $1 million for matching five white balls. The Power Play optional feature for an extra $1 can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.
| Match | Prize Amount | Odds |
| 5 white + Powerball | Jackpot (est. $1.25B) | 1 in 292.2 million |
| 5 white balls | $1,000,000 | 1 in 11.7 million |
| 4 white + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129 |
| Powerball only | $4 | 1 in 38.3 |
History’s Biggest Winners and Record-Breaking Jackpots
Powerball players nationwide have witnessed some truly staggering jackpot amounts over the years. The largest-ever Powerball jackpot was $2.04 billion, won on November 7, 2022 by a ticket holder from California at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena. The second-largest was a $1.787 billion jackpot won on September 6, 2025.
By far the biggest individual winner was Edwin Castro, who won the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot and chose the lump sum payout. He received $997.6 million after federal withholding, just shy of $1 billion. Other massive jackpots include a $1.765 billion prize from October 11, 2023 and a $1.586 billion jackpot from January 13, 2016.
Prize Options and Tax Considerations for Mega Winners
Winners of Powerball jackpots face an important choice: the annuity option or the cash lump sum. The annuity pays the full advertised amount in 30 graduated payments over 29 years. The cash option provides an immediate lump sum that’s significantly less than the advertised amount.
Federal taxes immediately take 24% of the cash value, with state taxes varying by location. For the current $1.25 billion jackpot, the estimated cash value is approximately $572.1 million. Winners must decide within 60 days of winning which payment method they prefer. Many prefer the lump sum for immediate access, while others choose the annuity for guaranteed long-term income.
What Makes Powerball Different From Other Lottery Games?
Powerball stands apart from other lottery games through its size and reach. Unlike Mega Millions, which requires different number selections, Powerball operates across 45 participating states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This massive player pool creates jackpots that regularly exceed $1 billion.
The Power Play add-on feature is also unique to Powerball, giving players the option to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Drawings happen every Monday and Wednesday at 10:59 PM ET, providing regular chances to win. The game’s structure with nine different prize tiers means far more people win something, even if most prizes are modest compared to the multimillion-dollar jackpot.
“Powerball offers nine ways to win, starting with $4 for matching just the Powerball.”
— Minnesota Lottery, Official Gaming Authority
Sources
- Powerball.com – Official Powerball website with current jackpot and winning numbers
- CBS News – Verified current jackpot information and historical ranking
- New York Times – Documentation of largest lottery jackpots in U.S. history
Annabelle Ink is a gaming journalist and lifelong gamer who lives and breathes video game culture. From console releases to esports tournaments, this dedicated journalist brings insider knowledge and genuine enthusiasm to every review and feature. Her expertise spans multiple gaming platforms, helping readers discover their next favorite game while staying connected to the pulse of the gaming industry.