WASHINGTON — Check your tickets: there might be a jackpot-winning ticket among them.
A ticket sold in Georgia has won Powerball's $478 million jackpot after Wednesday's drawing.
It's the first time somebody has won the Powerball jackpot since August. Wednesday's jackpot's cash value is more than $230 million.
A pair of tickets, one in Pennsylvania and the other in Texas, are worth a million dollars for getting all five white ball numbers correct.
As usual after a big win, the Powerball jackpot has reset to $20 million (with a $9.6 million cash prize option) and will grow again as more time passes without a winner.
Winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, October 23
The winning numbers for Wednesday's drawing were 2-15-27-29-39, Powerball 20.
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.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
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 the largest Powerball jackpots?
- $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA
- $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 - OR
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $842.4 Million – January 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
