Powerball, Powerball, Powerball: Jackpot Nears $300 Million For Saturday Drawing

It’s showtime!

The sequel to Beetlejuice — titled, appropriately, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — soared past $295 million in global box office last week, and Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot … well, if someone wins it, they’ll probably also be dancing to “Jump in Line (Shake Shake Senora)” before the day is over.

Yep, after Wednesday’s drawing came up empty in terms of jackpot winners, Saturday night’s drawing — the 21st since the last Powerball grand prize winner was crowned — is sitting at an estimated $295 million, with a cash value of $147.9 million.

Perhaps the key to winning Saturday night’s draw is simply repeating the word “Powerball” three times? Can’t hurt, right?

In the meantime, Wednesday’s numbers — 1, 2, 21, 37, and 43, with a red Powerball of 21 — did produce two new millionaires, as a pair of lucky players matched all five white balls to each take home a $1 million prize.

Lottery Geeks estimates some 12.6 million tickets were sold for Wednesday’s drawing. 

Mega Millions keeps growing 

No one won the Mega Millions top prize on Tuesday, pushing Friday’s jackpot over the $100 million mark, to an estimated $108 million (with a cash option of $53.8 million).

This will be the first time both Mega Millions and Powerball have been over the $100 million mark simultaneously since Aug. 16.

Tuesday’s numbers — 27, 35, 47, 50, and 66 with a gold Mega Ball of 25 — created one Match Five millionaire, as a winning ticket was sold in New York. 

Lottery Geeks estimates a little more than 10 million tickets were sold for Tuesday’s drawing.

Tickets for either lottery cost $2, with most states offering a multiplier option for an additional $1.

Both lotteries are legal in all states except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Tickets are also sold in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in Puerto Rico, customers can buy tickets for Powerball, but not Mega Millions.

All-time biggest jackpots

Here is a list of the all-time top 10 U.S. lottery jackpots:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
3. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
4. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
5. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
6. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
7. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
9. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024, won in New Jersey
10. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023, won in California

And here’s the all-time top 10 by lump-sum cash value:

1. $997.6 million, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $983.5 million, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
3. $877.8 million, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
4. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
5. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
6. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
7. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
8. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $621 million, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
10. $558.1 million, Powerball, July 19, 2023, won in California