Powerball jackpot climbs to $856 million ahead of Saturday draw

The Powerball jackpot increased to an estimated $856 million after no ticket matched all six numbers in Wednesday's drawing, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The cash option for the prize is $372 million. While the top prize went unclaimed, a player in Ohio won a $1 million prize.

Wednesday's winning numbers were 14, 20, 59, 60, 61 and the red Powerball 25, with a Power Play multiplier of 2. The jackpot had been set at $794 million with a cash value of $345.2 million before rolling over for the third consecutive month.

A spokesperson for the Multi-State Lottery Association said, "We already had five Powerball jackpots won by tickets in seven states this year before this current jackpot run. As jackpots continue to rollover without a grand prize winner, player interest grows and contributes to a faster jackpot growth."

The upcoming Saturday drawing follows the recent launch of Powerball ticket sales in the United Kingdom, made possible through an agreement with Allwyn UK, the operator of the National Lottery. The same spokesperson noted that new markets can accelerate jackpot growth, adding that ticket sales have risen since the UK launch, though it is too early to assess the full impact.

Powerball is currently offered in 45 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and now the United Kingdom. The all-time record jackpot of just over $2 billion was won in 2022. Winners may choose a lump-sum payment or an annuitized option paid over 30 years. The $856 million figure is before taxes; some states, such as California and Texas, do not tax lottery winnings. Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.