TN Lottery hits massive jackpots with $2 million Knoxville win and Powerball soars to $1.25 billion, here’s what winners should know

Tennessee lottery players are celebrating major wins this week as a $2 million scratch-off ticket sold in Knoxville combines with a soaring $1.25 billion Powerball jackpot heading into Wednesday’s drawing. The combination of instant game winnings and record-breaking multi-state prizes shows no sign of slowing down.

Knoxville Player Wins $2 Million on Scratch-Off Game

A lucky Tennessee resident struck it big with a $2 million prize from the Mega Millionaire Jumbo Bucks instant ticket game. The winning ticket was purchased at Weigel’s #43 located at 4750 Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville during the winning period of December 7-13, 2025. This marks one of the largest instant-game prizes available in the Tennessee Education Lottery lineup.

The Mega Millionaire Jumbo Bucks game offers players multiple chances to win with bonus symbols that multiply prizes. Retailers also benefit when winning tickets are sold at their locations, with bonuses awarded to the store that sold the lucky ticket. Tennessee lottery officials encourage all players to check their tickets immediately to verify any potential winnings.

This Knoxville win adds to the momentum of the week, as Tennessee players collectively won over $21.8 million in various lottery games from December 7-13. The instant-ticket category consistently delivers life-changing prizes for lucky players across the state.

Powerball Jackpot Soars to $1.25 Billion for Wednesday Drawing

The national Powerball jackpot continues its remarkable climb, reaching an estimated $1.25 billion heading into Wednesday’s drawing on December 17, 2025. The cash value option stands at $572.1 million, giving winners flexibility in how they claim their prize. This represents one of the largest jackpots available to lottery players across the nation.

No ticket matched all six winning numbers in Monday’s drawing, which featured numbers 23, 35, 59, 63, 68 with a Powerball of 2. The missed jackpot means the prize rolled forward, growing by approximately $110 million since the previous drawing. Players have until the 10:59 pm drawing on Wednesday evening to purchase tickets.

The sixth-highest Powerball jackpot in lottery history would rank this drawing among the most generous in recent years. Powerball drawings occur three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings.

Tennessee Lottery Continues Strong Performance This Week

Prize Category	Details
Largest Prize This Week	$2,000,000 Mega Millionaire Jumbo Bucks
Total Prizes (Dec 7-13)	$21,800,000 across all games
Powerball Current Jackpot	$1,250,000,000 (Wed, Dec 17)
Cash Option (Powerball)	$572,100,000

The Tennessee Education Lottery continues to deliver excitement and winnings to players across the state. Beyond the $2 million Knoxville win, lottery officials reported 17 additional winners claiming significant prizes through various games during the past week. Players consistently win across instant scratch-off games, drawing games like Tennessee Cash, and participation in national games like Powerball and Mega Millions.

The state lottery system generates millions annually for Tennessee education, with a portion of every ticket purchase supporting schools and educational programs throughout the state. Winners have 180 days from the date of drawing to claim prizes in Tennessee.

How Powerball vs Mega Millions Differ for Players

Tennessee players often wonder which multi-state game offers better opportunities. Powerball features five white balls selected from 69 numbers plus one red Powerball from 26 options. Mega Millions uses five white balls from 70 numbers plus one gold Mega Ball from 25 options. Both games offer starting jackpots of $20 million (Powerball) and $50 million (Mega Millions) respectively.

Ticket prices are identical at $2 per play for both games. The odds of winning any prize roughly match between the two, with approximately 1 in 24 chances of winning something. However, Powerball odds of hitting the jackpot stand at 1 in 292.2 million while Mega Millions jackpot odds are 1 in 302.6 million. Both games are available at lottery retailers throughout Tennessee.

What Should Winners Know About Claiming Tennessee Lottery Prizes?

Instant ticket winners like the recent $2 million Knoxville winner should sign the back of their ticket immediately to establish ownership. Winners face a 180-day deadline to claim prizes at authorized lottery retailers or the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation office in Nashville. Prizes over $600 require verification and processing through official channels.

Tennessee allows lottery winners to claim prizes through entities like trusts and legal entities, offering some privacy options for those wishing to protect their identity after winning. Winners should keep their ticket secure and consider consulting with financial and tax advisors before claiming major prizes. Jackpot winners have the option to receive their prize as an annuity (paid over years) or as a lump sum cash payment, each with different tax implications.

Sources

• Tennessee Education Lottery – Official lottery results and prize information
• Powerball Official – Current jackpot amounts and drawing results
• CBS News and ABC News – National lottery coverage and reporting