Could tonight be the one? The Powerball drawing on Saturday, Dec. 13 delivered five white balls and a red Powerball that will have ticket-holders across the country double‑checking their slips: 1, 28, 31, 57 and 58 — Powerball 16. Power Play was 2x.
The advertised jackpot was centered squarely in the billion‑dollar neighborhood. Official postings and local outlets put the annuitized figure at roughly $1 billion (some sources listed an estimate near $1.06–1.10 billion), with the lump‑sum/cash option reported in different accounts between about $457.7 million and roughly $503 million. Those differences reflect timing, rounding and whether an outlet cited the annuity or the cash value; the Powerball site remains the definitive source for final payout figures.
Why this drawing mattered
This was the lottery's latest stretch of no grand‑prize winners following the Sept. 6 jackpot that was split by two tickets in Missouri and Texas. The game has now run many consecutive drawings without a top‑prize taker, pushing the advertised amount back into rarefied territory — another billion‑dollar headline that captures attention and spending across multiple states.
A few practical facts
- Odds of matching all six numbers remain long: about 1 in 292.2 million.
- Tickets cost $2 per play; Power Play is an extra $1.
- Drawings take place Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET (broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee and streamed on Powerball.com).
If you have a ticket
First: breathe, then double‑check. Match the numbers exactly, including the Powerball. If you find you’ve matched everything, don’t sign the ticket and contact your state lottery immediately — procedures and deadlines vary by state. Some jurisdictions allow winners to claim anonymously; others require public disclosure of a name and hometown. The rules can be complicated, and many winners consult lawyers and financial advisers before announcing anything.
Choosing annuity vs. lump sum is not only about headline numbers. The annuity spreads payments across decades (with annual increases), the lump sum is smaller up front but gives immediate control — and both are subject to taxes. If you’re curious about state rules for anonymity and claiming, check your lottery’s official website before making any moves.
Watching and playing smart
The drawing is broadcast live and the official Powerball site posts results promptly; outlets and apps will also push results. If you use third‑party apps or digital couriers to buy tickets, verify the vendor and keep copies of purchase confirmations. With digital life increasingly tied to our inboxes and apps, it’s worth remembering the risks of scams and misleading messages — a timely reminder given the expanding role of AI tools in everyday services. For example, new integrations that let AI search your Gmail or Drive show how quickly notifications and documents can get routed and should be monitored carefully Gemini Deep Research plugs into Gmail and Drive.
And when relying on mobile services, be mindful of brand and platform issues: emerging apps bring convenience but also new questions about authenticity and rights — a debate playing out as voice and app technologies roll out on Android and other platforms OpenAI’s Sora lands on Android.
A final note
Whether this drawing produced a winner will be confirmed by state lotteries once they reconcile tickets. For the many who play for the thrill, the draw is a reminder of how small a sliver of chance can suddenly rewrite lives — and how important it is to have a plan before that improbable phone call comes.