When is the Powerball drawing tonight? The $1.7 billion jackpot drawing takes place at 7:59 PM PT (10:59 PM ET) on December 24, 2025, marking the fourth largest prize in U.S. lottery history. No winner emerged from Monday’s drawing, causing the jackpot to climb to unprecedented Christmas Eve levels with a cash option of $781.3 million.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Jackpot Amount: $1.70 billion annuity or $781.3 million cash option
- Drawing Time: 7:59 PM Pacific / 10:59 PM Eastern on December 24, 2025
- Historical Ranking: Fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever, behind the $2.04 billion California win in 2022
- Odds of Winning: 1 in 292.2 million for the jackpot; 1 in 24.9 overall for any prize
What Time Does the Powerball Drawing Happen Tonight?
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The Christmas Eve Powerball drawing airs at 7:59 PM PT from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. For East Coast viewers, the drawing broadcasts live at 10:59 PM ET. Players can watch the live drawing on Powerball.com or through local television networks. The drawing happens every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, but tonight’s Christmas Eve drawing carries historic significance.
Tickets must be purchased before the drawing closes, typically one hour before broadcast time in most states. California players see drawings at 7:59 PM PT, making tonight particularly convenient for West Coast lottery enthusiasts hoping to catch the action.
How Large Is the $1.7 Billion Christmas Eve Jackpot?
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At $1.70 billion, tonight’s jackpot represents only the fourth largest prize in Powerball history. The all-time record remains the $2.04 billion jackpot won in California on November 7, 2022. The second-largest prize hit $1.787 billion on September 6, 2025, split between winners in Missouri and Texas.
The cash option of $781.3 million appeals to winners wanting immediate lump-sum payouts rather than annuity schedules. If a winner selects the annuity, they receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments increasing 5 percent each year. Both options face federal and state taxes.
| Rank | Jackpot Amount | Date | Location |
| 1 | $2.04 Billion | November 7, 2022 | California |
| 2 | $1.787 Billion | September 6, 2025 | Missouri & Texas |
| 3 | $1.765 Billion | October 11, 2023 | California |
| 4 | $1.70 Billion (Tonight) | December 24, 2025 | Nationwide |
Why Did the Jackpot Grow So Large This Week?
The jackpot skyrocketed because no player matched all six numbers in Monday’s drawing. The December 22, 2025 drawing saw winning numbers 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 with Powerball 7, but zero jackpot winners emerged. Instead, nine tickets nationally won $1 million prizes by matching the five white balls.
Tonight represents the 47th consecutive drawing without a jackpot winner, making it a game record for the most drawings in a single jackpot cycle. The previous winner claimed the $1.787 billion prize on September 6, 2025, split between two tickets in Missouri and Texas. Historically, the Powerball jackpot has been won once on Christmas Eve (2011) and four times on Christmas Day (1996, 2002, 2010, 2013).
What Are My Odds of Winning the Powerball Jackpot?
Players face daunting odds tonight: 1 in 292.2 million for matching all six numbers and winning the jackpot. However, the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9, which includes matching just the Powerball number for a $4 prize. A $2 ticket purchases the opportunity to select five numbers from 69 white balls and one number from 26 red Powerball balls.
Multiple prize tiers exist beyond the jackpot. Matching five white balls wins $1 million, while matching four white balls plus the Powerball nets $50,000. Even matching just the Powerball alone wins $4. Monday’s drawing produced 107 tickets worth $50,000 and 28 tickets worth $100,000 in other prize categories.
“Much like the holidays, Powerball is a game that brings people together to dream big and hope for a brighter future. We hope this growing jackpot inspires excitement and joy, and, most importantly, good will to all.”
— Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO
Will Christmas Eve 2025 Finally Produce a Powerball Winner?
Christmas Eve has rare historical significance in Powerball’s winning timeline. Only once before has someone won on Christmas Eve itself — that happened in 2011. However, successful winners have emerged four times on Christmas Day (1996, 2002, 2010, 2013), suggesting holiday-season fortune favors some players.
Tickets are sold in 45 states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The drawing takes place regardless of the holiday, with lottery officials confirming that any winning ticket will be processed normally on Christmas Eve. Experts recommend players check tickets carefully immediately after the drawing, as some may forget to verify winning combinations in the holiday excitement.
What Happens to Lottery Money?
More than half of all proceeds from Powerball ticket sales stay in the jurisdiction where tickets were purchased. Since the first drawing in 1992, Powerball has generated over $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries. These funds support education, infrastructure, and community programs nationwide.
Sources
- Powerball Official – Official drawing information and jackpot history
- NBC News – Christmas Eve jackpot milestone reporting
- Reuters – U.S. lottery prize rankings and statistics
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.