The Powerball lottery is a popular multi-state lottery game in the United States that produces enormous jackpots and millionaire winners. The Powerball drawing on New Year’s Eve is always highly anticipated, as many people hope to ring in the new year as big winners. There was no Powerball jackpot winner on New Year’s Eve 2022, but there were some significant smaller prize winners across the country.
Powerball Overview
Powerball is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and is available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To play Powerball, players select five white ball numbers from 1 to 69, and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Tickets cost $2 per play. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
Jackpots start at $20 million, and rolls over if there is no top prize winner. The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds for the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Powerball has produced some of the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history. The current record stands at $1.586 billion, won in January 2016.
New Year’s Eve Powerball
The Powerball jackpot was an estimated $500 million for the Saturday, December 31, 2022 drawing. As no ticket matched all six numbers, the grand prize rolled over into 2023. While the jackpot went unclaimed, over 1.1 million tickets won cash prizes totaling $21.1 million in the New Year’s Eve drawing.
Some notable wins included:
- Two tickets (from Minnesota and New York) matched five numbers to win $1 million each.
- Seven tickets matched four numbers plus the Powerball to win $50,000 each.
- 80 tickets matched four numbers to win $100 each.
- Another 1,096,177 tickets won between $4 and $200 each.
So while the jackpot eluded players on New Year’s Eve, hundreds of thousands of smaller prizes provided exciting wins. The jackpot now rolls over to an estimated $565 million for the next drawing on January 4, 2023.
Biggest New Year’s Powerball Winners
While no one took home the jackpot on December 31, 2022, there have been some notable Powerball wins on past New Year’s drawings:
2008: $206 Million Jackpot
The December 31, 2008 Powerball produced a single jackpot winning ticket worth $206.9 million. It was sold in Oxford, Ohio, at a Kroger store. The winners chose to take the cash option lump sum payment of $120.6 million. At the time it was Ohio’s second largest lottery jackpot.
2016: $315 Million Jackpot
A couple from Chino Hills, California won a $315 million Powerball jackpot on January 6, 2016. This came from the January 3, 2016 drawing. Store surveillance footage showed the winners dancing joyfully in the store when they realized they held the sole jackpot winning ticket. At the time it was the largest Powerball jackpot won in California.
2018: $298.3 Million Jackpot
The January 3, 2018 Powerball produced a single ticket winner of a $298.3 million jackpot. It was sold at a gasoline station in Lutz, Florida. The winner elected to receive a one-time lump sum payment of $235.4 million. At the time it was the 5th largest Powerball jackpot won by a single ticket.
2019: $50,000 Winner in Delaware
While no one won the jackpot on January 1, 2019, a $50,000 third prize winning ticket was sold in Delaware. The ticket was purchased at a Royal Farms store near New Castle. Five numbers were matched by the ticket, which beat odds of 1 in 579,760. Although not a multimillion dollar prize, it certainly made for an exciting New Year’s win.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play Powerball?
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play. To play, select five different numbers from 1 to 69, and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. You can choose your own numbers, or opt for a Quick Pick and have the numbers randomly assigned. For an additional $1 per play, you can add Power Play to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
What days are the Powerball drawings?
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased up until 9:59 p.m. ET on draw days.
What are the odds of winning Powerball?
The overall odds of winning a prize in Powerball are 1 in 24.9. The odds for winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Here are the odds for other prize levels:
| Prize Level | Odds |
| Match 5 + Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 11,688,053.52 |
| Match 4 + Powerball | 1 in 913,129.18 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 36,525.17 |
| Match 3 + Powerball | 1 in 14,494.11 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 579.76 |
| Match 2 + Powerball | 1 in 701.33 |
| Match 1 + Powerball | 1 in 91.98 |
| Match 0 + Powerball | 1 in 38.32 |
What are the biggest Powerball jackpots?
Here are the top 10 Powerball jackpots to date:
| Amount | Draw Date | Winning Tickets |
| $1.586 billion | 1/13/2016 | California, Florida, Tennessee |
| $768.4 million | 3/27/2019 | Wisconsin |
| $758.7 million | 8/23/2017 | Massachusetts |
| $731.1 million | 1/20/2021 | Maryland |
| $699.8 million | 10/4/2021 | California |
| $687.8 million | 10/27/2018 | Iowa, New York |
| $632.6 million | 1/5/2022 | California, Wisconsin |
| $590.5 million | 5/18/2013 | Florida |
| $587.5 million | 11/28/2012 | Arizona, Missouri |
| $564.1 million | 2/11/2015 | North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas |
What states participate in Powerball?
The following 45 states sell Powerball tickets: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also participate. The five states that do not offer Powerball are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
Key Facts About Powerball
Here are some important facts to know about Powerball:
– Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and grow based on game sales and rollovers. Jackpots are advertised as annuities, but most winners take the cash option.
– If there is no jackpot winner, the top prize rolls over to increase the jackpot for the next drawing. This creates huge jackpots.
– Odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292 million. You have a better chance (1 in 11 million) of matching just 5 main numbers.
– Tickets can be purchased for $2 per play, $3 per play with Power Play. Sales cut-off before drawings at 9:59 p.m. ET.
– Drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The drawings are televised and live streamed online.
– Prizes must be claimed within a specific time period by state, often 180 days from the drawing. Unclaimed prizes are returned to states as profits.
– Powerball winnings are subject to both federal and state taxes. Jackpots are taxed at the highest marginal tax rate of 37%.
– Some states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, while others require names and photos to be released publicly.
– Players must be 18 or older. In some states Powerball tickets can be purchased at age 16 or 17. Tickets are not valid in state of purchase.
Strategies for Winning Powerball
While Powerball jackpot odds are extremely long, there are some strategies players employ to try improving their chances:
Purchase Multiple Tickets
The only way to really increase your Powerball odds is to buy more tickets. Purchasing 50 Powerball quick picks versus 1 quick pick improves your chances 50 times over. Pooling money with others to buy more tickets can improve your group’s odds.
Join an Office Pool
Joining an office or group lottery pool allows you to spend less money while buying more tickets and combinations. This improves your winning chances. Just be sure to create a binding legal agreement on how to claim and divide any prizes won.
Use Birthdays for Numbers
Many players use birth dates, anniversaries, and memorable numbers to select their Powerball numbers. While this strategy won’t improve the odds, it can make for a more meaningful win if your special numbers hit.
Mix Odd and Even Numbers
History shows mixes of odd and even numbers perform better than all odd or all even numbers selected. Create number combinations that include both even and odd numbers.
Weigh Number Frequencies
Look back at past Powerball results to see which main numbers and Powerball numbers get drawn most often. Include some of these frequent numbers in your number choices where possible.
Use Quick Pick
The Powerball quick pick option randomly assigns your numbers. This ensures there is no bias in the numbers selected. Some players rely entirely on quick picks to choose numbers.
Try Balanced and Distributed Numbers
Number combinations with a balance of numbers across the number field tend to perform better. Mix numbers low, medium and high across your selection. Also distribute numbers across all dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36, etc).
Winning the Lottery Responsibly
Hitting the Powerball jackpot can change your life in an instant. Making smart financial moves after a big lottery win is critical. Here are some tips:
- Remain anonymous if allowed in your state. This will help maintain privacy.
- Work with financial planners, accountants and lawyers before making any big moves.
- Don’t rush. Take some time to let the reality sink in before making changes.
- Pay off existing debts right away before making other big purchases.
- Be discreet about who you tell about the win and how much you’ve won.
- Set aside some for fun purchases, travel or dream gifts, but use majority wisely.
- Invest conservatively to generate ongoing income from lottery winnings.
- Donate to charity – look for causes important to you.
- Consult experts to limit taxes on your winnings.
Staying grounded, planning carefully and making wise financial choices can help ensure Powerball millions change your life for the better. Just don’t let the money drastically change who you are.
Entertainment Value of Powerball
Beyond life-changing jackpots, Powerball offers entertainment and fun. Buying a ticket gives you permission to dream. There is enjoyment and excitement in watching the drawings, and anticipating the results. Small prizes can recoup the cost of tickets or produce a little profit. Office pools create camaraderie and bring colleagues together. And there is always the outside chance of an unexpected windfall!
Conclusion
While the Powerball jackpot eluded players on the big New Year’s Eve drawing, the game continues to change lives. Some lucky player will eventually match all six numbers and take home a massive jackpot.
In the meantime, Powerball continues to deliver fun and excitement to millions of players across the country. The opportunity to become an instant multi-millionaire will bring in more hopefuls for the next giant jackpot. Could a life-altering win be in your near future? As long as you’ve got a Powerball ticket, you’ve got a chance!