The last Powerball jackpot was won on November 19, 2022 in Kansas. The winning ticket was sold at a Casey’s General Store in Lebanon, Kansas and was worth $92.9 million. The winner has not yet come forward to claim the prize.
When and where was the last Powerball jackpot won?
As mentioned, the last Powerball jackpot was won on November 19, 2022 with a ticket purchased in Lebanon, Kansas. The winning numbers for that draw were 28, 45, 53, 56, 69 and the Powerball was 20. The jackpot had rolled over 39 times before being won, driving the prize to $92.9 million.
Prior to this win in Kansas, the last time the Powerball jackpot was claimed was on August 3, 2022. That winning ticket was sold in Pennsylvania and was worth $206.9 million. The winner opted to take the lump sum cash option, bringing their total prize to $99.3 million before taxes.
What are the most common Powerball winning states?
Over the history of the Powerball game, which began in 1992, some states have had more jackpot winners than others. Here are the states with the most Powerball jackpot wins to date:
| State | Number of Jackpots Won |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 39 |
| Missouri | 31 |
| Minnesota | 22 |
| Wisconsin | 21 |
| Arizona | 19 |
As shown, Indiana has had the most luck with 39 Powerball winners over the years. Missouri comes in second with 31 jackpot wins. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona round out the top 5 states for luckiest Powerball territories.
Why do some states have more jackpot winners?
There are a few potential reasons why certain states have had more Powerball jackpot winners than others:
- Higher population – States like Indiana, Missouri and Arizona have larger populations, meaning more Powerball tickets are purchased there.
- Greater participation – Some states tend to have residents that play the lottery more frequently.
- Luck – Plain old luck can concentrate jackpot wins if the random numbers drawn align with where tickets were sold.
In the end, Powerball is entirely random, so wins should theoretically be distributed proportionately across the population over a long enough timeline. But in the short term, we see some variance that leads to concentrations of wins in certain lucky states.
What are the biggest Powerball jackpots on record?
Here are the top 10 largest Powerball jackpots to date:
| Jackpot Amount | Winning Ticket Sold In | Date Won |
|---|---|---|
| $2.04 billion | California | November 7, 2022 |
| $1.586 billion | California, Florida, Tennessee | January 13, 2016 |
| $768.4 million | Wisconsin | March 27, 2019 |
| $758.7 million | Massachusetts | August 23, 2017 |
| $731.1 million | Maryland | January 20, 2021 |
| $699.8 million | California | October 4, 2021 |
| $687.8 million | Iowa, New York | October 27, 2018 |
| $632.6 million | California, Wisconsin | January 5, 2022 |
| $590.5 million | Florida | May 18, 2013 |
| $587.5 million | Arizona, Missouri | November 28, 2012 |
As you can see, the biggest Powerball jackpot by far was the massive $2.04 billion prize won in November 2022 in California. That record-shattering amount is more than double the next largest jackpot of $1.586 billion split between winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in 2016.
Has Powerball always had such big jackpots?
No, Powerball jackpots were much smaller when the game first launched. The game has gone through several rule changes over the years that have allowed the jackpots to grow progressively larger. Some key changes include:
- 1992 – Powerball launches with jackpots starting at $2 million.
- 1997 – Jackpots increased to a $10 million starting point.
- 1998 – “Power Play” option added allowing players to multiply non-jackpot winnings.
- 2001 – Jackpots now start at $15 million minimum.
- 2003 – Power Play expanded to also multiply second prize winnings.
- 2012 – $2 ticket price introduced doubling the starting jackpot to $40 million.
These changes, especially the increase to a $2 ticket price, have paved the way for the game to regularly offer mega-jackpots of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Who has won the most Powerball jackpots?
In the entire history of Powerball, the record for the most jackpot wins by a single player is 3. Several players have managed to win the Powerball jackpot 3 times:
- Richard Lustig – Florida (2009, 2010, 2013)
- Joan Ginther – Texas (1993, 2006, 2010)
- Anonymous – Indiana (2009, 2010, 2012)
Winning the jackpot once is incredibly rare, so hitting the top prize three times is astonishing. Aside from these three repeat winners, no one else has managed to win more than two Powerball jackpots.
Have there been other notable repeat winners?
While Lustig, Ginther and the anonymous Hoosier are the only 3-time winners, there have been several 2-time Powerball jackpot winners:
- Delmar Dennis – Delaware (1995, 1996)
- Larry Blair – Indiana (1998, 2001)
- Anonymous – Arizona (2013, 2014)
- Mae Woods – Michigan (2004, 2010)
- Anonymous – North Carolina (2006, 2007)
Winning two jackpots is still extremely rare. Most winners are one-and-done, hitting it big once and then never capturing lightning in a bottle again. But these repeat victors show it’s possible, though long odds, to score multiple eight or nine-figure lottery paydays.
What state has gone the longest without a jackpot winner?
Currently the state that has gone the longest without having one of its residents win a Powerball jackpot is North Dakota.
The last Powerball jackpot won in North Dakota was on March 25, 2008 when a couple from Fargo claimed a $177 million prize. As of October 2022, that was over 14 years ago.
Here are the states that have gone the longest without any Powerball jackpot winners:
| State | Last Jackpot Win | Years Since Last Win |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | March 25, 2008 | 14 years, 6 months |
| Wyoming | March 23, 2010 | 12 years, 6 months |
| Maine | July 30, 2011 | 11 years, 2 months |
| Vermont | February 6, 2014 | 8 years, 8 months |
| Alaska | October 29, 2014 | 7 years, 11 months |
North Dakota lottery players have endured an especially lengthy dry spell, going over 14 years since one of their own hit the Powerball jackpot. Maine and Vermont have also gone over a decade without a resident winner. Hopefully luck turns around soon for these unlucky states!
How often does Powerball produce a jackpot winner?
On average, Powerball produces a jackpot winner about once every 3 months or 13 draws. However, there is substantial variation around this average:
- The shortest jackpot roll was 1 drawing.
- The longest roll ever was 41 drawings.
- The average roll is 13 drawings.
- 10th percentile roll length is 3 drawings.
- 90th percentile roll length is 28 drawings.
So while going 3 months between winners is typical, it’s not uncommon for luck to cluster and produce back-to-back winners or extended dry spells of 6 months or more without anyone hitting the jackpot.
Why does the jackpot roll so frequently?
The reason Powerball frequently rolls without a winner is because of the game’s extremely long odds. The chances of winning the jackpot are only around 1 in 292 million. To put that in perspective, your odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are about 1 in 15,000. When the odds are so infinitesimal, it’s no surprise winners are sporadic.
Assuming typical player volumes, about 50% of drawings should produce a winner. But in actuality, over Powerball’s history only around 19% have resulted in a jackpot hit. The overwhelmingly likely outcome on any given draw remains that no player matches all 6 numbers. As a result, the jackpot rolls over week after week until a lucky player beats the odds.
How do frequent rollovers affect the size of jackpots?
With every roll, the size of the Powerball jackpot increases. The rate at which it grows depends on the game’s current jackpot level:
- $20 million+ jackpot increases by $2 million each roll.
- $124 million – $248 million jackpot increases by $10 million each roll.
- $250 million+ jackpot increases by $15 million each roll.
So for example, if the jackpot was $100 million and rolled over 4 times without a winner, it would grow to $120 million. The more it rolls, the faster the prize grows. This is how we end up with such astronomically large jackpots like the record $2.04 billion won in November 2022.
Does frequent rolling increase or decrease your expected value?
Frequent jackpot rollovers actually decrease your expected value as a player. This counterintuitive result exists because the higher jackpot also attracts more players. The more tickets sold, the more you have to split the pot if you get lucky and match all 6 numbers. With hundreds of millions of tickets sold, your odds of having to share remain well above any potential added value from the higher headline prize.
In the end, while a rolled jackpot might seem enticing, your long run average return is always negative playing the lottery. The house advantage ensures the majority of drawings will result in no winner.
Should you buy more tickets when the jackpot rolls?
When the Powerball jackpot fails to produce a winner, excitement and lottery sales tend to grow as the top prize increases for the next drawing. But does it make sense strategically to buy more tickets when you see the jackpot rolling over each drawing?
The answer is likely no. Here are some reasons why:
- Your odds don’t improve – Buying more tickets gives you more chances to win, but your probability is still minuscule.
- Expected loss increases – Greater volume means higher expected loss on losing tickets.
- Split risk increases – The more tickets sold, the more likely you’ll need to split.
- Jackpot fatigue – After several rolls, enthusiasm often declines.
Unless you were already planning to boost your lottery budget, there is little financial justification for chasing a runaway jackpot. And of course you should never spend money you can’t afford to lose. A disciplined approach based on a fixed budget rather than emotions is advisable.
Does the jackpot “need” to be won eventually?
There is a common misperception that an extended run of jackpot rollovers means the prize is somehow “due” to be hit. But random number selection means the outcome of each draw is completely independent from those preceding it. Luck can go on an improbably long streak in either direction.
So there is no certainty the jackpot needs to be won any time soon. In October 2021, Powerball saw a record 41 consecutive rollovers. The five numbers on your ticket are utterly indifferent to how long it’s been since someone got lucky.
Conclusion
The Powerball jackpot can transform lives with millions in winnings. But scoring the big prize takes immense luck. Just one winner emerged in the last four months across dozens of drawings. And winners are sporadic since the odds are so heavily stacked against players.
Certain states like Indiana and Missouri have been especially fortunate, producing a disproportionate share of jackpot victors. But wins are ultimately random, not predictable. The only surefire strategy is sticking to a budget you can afford. Chasing losses or long rollover streaks rarely pays off.
Powerball’s ultra-long odds mean weeks or months often pass between winners. But that doesn’t mean the jackpot is “due” or increase your Expected Value. Ignore the noise and play responsibly based on your entertainment budget rather than emotions or misguided perceptions of luck.
