The Powerball jackpot swelled to an estimated $1.6 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers in Saturday’s drawing, setting up one of the biggest U.S. lottery prizes in recent years.
What happened
Saturday’s winning numbers were 4, 5, 28, 52, 69 and the red Powerball 20. With no grand-prize winner, the top prize rolled over to Monday’s drawing and is being advertised at about $1.6 billion if taken as the annuity. The approximate lump-sum cash option is roughly $735 million — both amounts before taxes, according to Powerball officials. For the official details, see the Powerball website.
Odds haven’t changed: a single ticket still faces 1 in 292.2 million chances of hitting the jackpot. That long shot is part of the lottery’s draw: large rollovers attract a flood of ticket buyers and bigger headlines.
Small and mid-tier winners emerged around the region
Not everyone walked away empty-handed. Several players matched five white balls (but missed the red Powerball) and took home $1 million prizes. Two such tickets were reported in Michigan, and in Ohio a $1 million ticket was sold at the Speedway on East Avenue in Tallmadge for the Dec. 20 drawing. The Speedway’s assistant manager, Toya McDowell, said the store sells a lot of tickets and that this was their first big winner under current management.
Those mid-tier wins are reminders that you don’t have to hit the jackpot to change a life — and that retailers sometimes become local landmarks when they sell big winning tickets.
How the payout works
Winners can choose between the annuity and a single lump-sum cash payment. The annuity option pays out one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year; the advertised annuity figure reflects that full, 30-payment schedule. The lump-sum option is a smaller, immediate cash amount that most big winners choose after consulting tax and financial advisors.
Powerball is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and is sold in 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Proceeds from ticket sales are used by states for various public services, including education.
A few practical reminders for players
- Double-check your tickets as soon as drawings are posted; small prizes can expire if not claimed promptly. Sign your ticket and keep it somewhere safe.
- If you’re a big winner, get legal and financial advice before claiming. Large prizes bring complicated tax and planning questions.
- Retailers that sell winning tickets often reward staff and get a burst of local attention — if you sold one, expect calls.
Whether this round produces a single life-changing winner or a handful of smaller victors, tournaments like this always create a blend of excitement, stories and cautious planning. If you bought a ticket, it’s worth a quick re-check — you might be owing yourself more than you realized.