Powerball jackpot touches nearly $300-million mark for September 19 drawing - Here's what Saturday night's winner could take home

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $298 million for Saturday night’s drawing after no ticket matched all six winning numbers in Wednesday’s drawing. If a player wins the jackpot, they can choose between the advertised $298 million annuity, paid through annual installments over 30 years, or a $126.6 million lump-sum cash option. However, neither figure represents the amount the winner would ultimately take home. Powerball prizes are subject to taxes, meaning the winner could owe federal income taxes as well as state or local taxes, depending on where the winning ticket was purchased. The final amount received would therefore be lower than the advertised jackpot or cash value after applicable taxes are deducted.

POWERBALL'S MASSIVE JACKPOTS CONTINUE IN 2026

Winning the Powerball jackpot is an extraordinarily rare event. To win the top prize, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, making it one of the most difficult lottery prizes to win. Despite those long odds, Powerball has produced several massive jackpots in 2026. One of the biggest was won in Illinois on August 12, when a ticket matched all six winning numbers to claim an estimated $1.04 billion jackpot. The jackpot had rolled over for 44 consecutive drawings before finally being won. The prize ranks among the largest Powerball jackpots ever awarded.


The Illinois winner had two payout options. The advertised $1.04 billion annuity is paid in annual installments over 30 years, while the estimated cash option was about $450.5 million. Both amounts are before applicable taxes, meaning the winner's final take-home amount would be lower after federal and any applicable state or local taxes. Illinois was not the only state to produce a major Powerball jackpot winner in 2026. A ticket sold in North Carolina won an estimated $209.3 million jackpot in January, while an Arkansas ticket won an estimated $250.8 million jackpot in March.

These massive prizes highlight just how large Powerball jackpots can become when no ticket matches all six numbers over multiple drawings.

HOW HIGH CAN THE POWERBALL JACKPOT GO?

The Powerball jackpot can grow quickly when no player matches all six winning numbers. When a jackpot goes unclaimed in one drawing, the prize rolls over to the next drawing, allowing millions of dollars to accumulate. With repeated rollovers, the jackpot can eventually reach hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. The largest Powerball jackpot ever won was an estimated $2.04 billion in 2022. The lottery has also produced two jackpots worth more than $1.7 billion. A $1.817 billion jackpot was won in 2025, followed by another worth approximately $1.787 billion.

Players do not have to match all six numbers to win a substantial prize. Matching all five white balls without matching the red Powerball wins a $1 million prize before taxes. Players can also choose the optional Power Play feature, which can multiply most non-jackpot prizes.

Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The game's large player base, enormous jackpots and rollover system continue to generate excitement. As the jackpot increases from one drawing to the next, anticipation often grows among players hoping to land the next life-changing prize.

Powerball winning numbers for September 16

The winning numbers for September 16 (Wednesday): 02-21-24-25-64 and the Powerball is: 07. The Powerplay was 2X.

When is the next Powerball drawing?

The next drawing will take place on September 19, Saturday. Drawings are held three times per week at approximately 10:59 PM ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

What is the Powerball payout?

• Match 5 White Balls + Powerball: Jackpot
• Match 5 White Balls: $1 million
• Match 4 White Balls + Powerball: $50,000
• Match 4 White Balls: $100
• Match 3 White Balls + Powerball: $100
• Match 3 White Balls: $7
• Match 2 White Balls + Powerball: $7
• Match 1 White Ball + Powerball: $4
• Match Powerball: $4
• Match 5 White Balls with Power Play: $2 million
• Match 4 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $200,000
• Match 4 White Balls with Power Play: $400
• Match 3 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $400
• Match 3 White Balls with Power Play: $28
• Match 2 White Balls + Powerball with Power Play: $28
• Match 1 White Ball + Powerball with Power Play: $16
• Match Powerball with Power Play: $16

Deadline to buy Powerball tickets

Powerball ticket buying times vary from one state to another and, therefore, one should not take any chances. In New Jersey, ticket sales will end at 9:59 PM, but in New York, the sales will end at 10 PM.

How to play Powerball?

The cost of purchasing a ticket for the Powerball game is two dollars, while an extra dollar is required for the Power Play where non-jackpot prizes will be multiplied by five times and ten times if the jackpot is less than 150 million dollars.

Each participant selects his/her numbers ranging from 1 to 69 for the five white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the Powerball. Alternatively, quick picks are made by lottery machine.

The amounts of prizes differ from four dollars when matching just the Powerball to one million dollars when five white balls are matched (except for California).

How many states have Powerball?

Powerball tickets can be bought in 45 states, including Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In fact, it ranks among the most popular lottery games in America.

How to buy Powerball tickets?

The Powerball lottery tickets can be purchased physically at gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, and some airport terminal shops.

The other method to purchase Powerball tickets is by using the Jackpocket app online in selected states such as Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington DC, and West Virginia.

Through the Jackpocket app, one can select the game of choice, pick numbers, order the ticket, and claim any winnings directly from the mobile phone or desktop computer.