KATY, Texas — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in the Tomball area for Saturday night’s drawing is waking up very happy after winning a $2 million prize.
The winning numbers for Saturday's jackpot drawing were 10-11-26-27-34 and Powerball 7, with a Power Play 4. Since no one matched all five numbers and the Powerball, the jackpot grew to an estimated $810 million annuitized or $408.9 million cash value, according to the Texas Lottery.
While no one hit the jackpot valued at $786 million, someone who purchased a ticket in the Tomball area and selected the more expensive Power Play option matched all five white ball numbers, meaning they'll take home $2 million.
The ticket was purchased at Rosehill Mini Mart off the FM 2920 near Rosehill Church Road.
Several other tickets earned $1 million for matching all five regular numbers. Another sold in West Virginia also took home $2 million
“This Powerball jackpot is climbing the charts and it’s anyone’s guess whether our next big winner will be made in 2023 or the New Year,” Powerball Product Group Chair Drew Svitko said in a statement. “This is a fun time to get into the game, especially over the holidays when you can dream big with family and friends."
The lottery game hasn't seen a jackpot winner since Oct. 11, when a single ticket in California took home the $1.76 billion prize. The prize is currently the fourth Powerball jackpot to topple the half-a-billion dollar mark this year.
What were the winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, December 27, 2023?
The winning numbers are 10-11-26-27-34 and Powerball 7, with a Power Play 4.
If a winner matches all five numbers and the Powerball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out over 30 years, or a smaller cash payout. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Wednesday was $355.9 million.
The streak without a jackpot winner is due to the game's long odds, 1 in 292.2 million, that are designed to make winning rare so grand prizes can grow large.
Even with the smaller lump sum payout, federal taxes will eat into those winnings, and some states also tax big lottery prizes. Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
When is the Powerball drawing?
The Powerball drawing takes place live at 10:59 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets, which cost $2 per play, are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What are my chances of winning the Powerball?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
Over the past few years, huge lottery jackpots have become more common as lottery officials have changed the rules and ticket prices to boost top prizes.
Powerball's biggest change came in 2021 when officials decided to add a Monday drawing to its weekly lineup of Wednesday and Saturday evening drawings. At the time of the announcement, Powerball proclaimed the addition of the Monday drawing would lead to "larger, faster-growing jackpots."
What are the largest Powerball jackpots?
- $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.76 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $786 Million (est.) – Dec. 30, 2023
- $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
- $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
- $754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA
- $731.1 Million – Jan. 20, 2021 – MD
- $687.8 Million – Oct. 27, 2018 – IA, NY
