WASHINGTON, USA — The Powerball jackpot is up to $485 million, inching ever-closer toward half-a-billion dollars as the grand prize climbs to its highest level this year since a lucky winner in Michigan won an $842.4 million jackpot on New Year's Day.
Overnight, the jackpot rose about $15 million after no winners were selected for the $460 million prize Monday night. The next drawing is set to take place Wednesday, March 6.
Powerball isn't the only lottery game with a chance at life-changing winnings. If players don't match all six numbers tonight, Mega Millions is also currently offering a jackpot of $650 million and climbing.
Winning Powerball numbers for Monday, March 4, 2024
The winning numbers are 36-42-50-52-67, Powerball: 26 and Power Play: 2.
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.
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
- $848.4 million - Jan. 1, 2024 - MI
- $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
- $699.8 million – Oct. 4, 2021 – CA
What are the largest US lottery jackpots ever won?
- $2.04 billion: Powerball - Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.76 billion – Oct. 11, 2023
- $1.586 billion: Powerball – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.58 billion: Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – FL
- $1.537 billion: Mega Millions – Oct. 23, 2018 - SC
- $1.35 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 13, 2023 - ME
- $1.337 billion: Mega Millions - July 29, 2022 - IL
- $1.08 billion: Powerball – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $1.05 billion: Mega Millions - Jan. 22, 2021 - MI
- $848.4 million: Powerball - Jan. 1, 2024 - MI