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See the full story · 6 sourcesPowerball drawing: Jackpot soars to $856 million, eighth largest in game history
Powerball Powerball drawing: Jackpot soars to $856 million, eighth largest in game history Thursday, August 6, 2026 2:34PM The Powerball jackpot has continued its summer surge, reaching an estimated $856 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing. WPVI The Powerball jackpot has continued its summer surge, reaching an estimated $856 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.
The jackpot is now the eighth largest jackpots in game history.
It is the largest Powerball jackpot since a $1.817 billion prize won in Arkansas on Christmas Eve 2025, which remains the second-largest jackpot ever won in the game.
Wednesday's numbers were: 61-60-59-14-20 Powerball: 25
The Powerball jackpot was last won on May 2, 2026, by two tickets in Florida and Texas that split a $20 million jackpot.
The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are a minuscule 1 in 292.2 million. Those odds will be the same for U.S. and U.K. players, lottery officials say.
U.S. lottery officials say the expanded player base will allow Powerball jackpots to grow more quickly, likely increasing sales as more people are drawn to larger grand prizes.
Powerball is played in 45 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In the game, players choose five white-ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Drawings will continue to be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
1. $2.040 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022 (one ticket: California) 2. $1.787 billion, Powerball. Sept. 6, 2025 (two tickets: Missouri and Texas) 2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023 (one ticket: California) 3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (one ticket: Florida) 4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets: California, Florida and Tennessee) 5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket: South Carolina) 6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket: Maine) 7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket: Illinois) 8. $1.269 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024 (one ticket: California) 9.$1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024 (one ticket, from New Jersey) 10. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket: California)
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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