The Powerball jackpot is now $1.1 billion with a $498.4 million cash option. Learn the odds, prize breakdowns, and where this historic run ranks among the biggest jackpots ever.
The long weekend just got a whole lot more exciting. Tonight’s Powerball® jackpot has swelled to an eye-popping $1.1 billion, marking the fifth-largest prize in the game’s history. It’s been more than three months since anyone hit all six numbers, and anticipation is sky-high heading into the 40th consecutive drawing.
What’s on the Line
If a lucky ticket matches tonight, the winner will face the ultimate decision:
- Take home the annuitized $1.1 billion prize spread out over 30 years (with annual increases).
- Or grab a lump sum cash payout of $498.4 million before taxes.
Either way, it’s a life-changing haul for the price of a $2 ticket.
Saturday’s Numbers & Winners
Nobody claimed the jackpot in the August 30 drawing, but plenty of tickets still scored major wins. The numbers were 3, 18, 22, 27, 33, and the red Powerball 17 with a Power Play® multiplier of 3.
- Nine tickets matched all five white balls for $1 million each (California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania).
- Three tickets doubled their prize to $2 million by adding Power Play® (Colorado, Indiana, and New Hampshire).
- Dozens more players walked away with $50,000 and $150,000 wins.
So even without a jackpot winner, plenty of players are celebrating this week.
A Historic Run
The jackpot was last hit on May 31, 2025, in California for $204.5 million. With tonight’s draw, we’re approaching record territory: the longest Powerball run to date was 42 drawings, which ended with a $1.326 billion prize won in Oregon in April 2024.
Here’s where tonight’s jackpot stands among the top ten all-time:
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$2.04 Billion – Nov 7, 2022 – CA
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$1.765 Billion – Oct 11, 2023 – CA
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$1.586 Billion – Jan 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
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$1.326 Billion – Apr 6, 2024 – OR
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$1.1 Billion (estimated) – Sept 1, 2025
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$1.08 Billion – Jul 19, 2023 – CA
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$842.4 Million – Jan 1, 2024 – MI
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$768.4 Million – Mar 27, 2019 – WI
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$758.7 Million – Aug 23, 2017 – MA
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$754.6 Million – Feb 6, 2023 – WA
Odds and Ends
The reality check is that the odds of hitting this or any Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of winning any prize? Much better, at 1 in 24.9. Tickets are available in 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and over in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with proceeds supporting local programs in each jurisdiction.
Drawings take place at 10:59 p.m. ET and are broadcast live from Tallahassee, Florida, and streamed online.
Why This Jackpot Matters
What makes billion-dollar jackpots different is the cultural buzz they generate. Gas stations are already seeing long lines. The social feeds are filling up with “what if” questions. And even casual Powerball players are getting in on the office pools right now. Powerball officials say this surge of interest also boosts funding for education, parks, veterans’ programs, and other community initiatives. In other words, even those $2 “what if” tickets contribute to something bigger than tonight’s drawing.
Jackpots of this size also highlight the unpredictability of the game. Just one ticket could land in the hands of a first-time player or someone who’s been playing the same numbers for years. Stories of forgotten tickets, office pools, and spur-of-the-moment buys often follow big wins, reminding everyone that it truly could be anybody.
One Last Thing
It’s been called “Powerball fever” for a reason. Maybe you’re buying your first ticket. Or it could be that you're sticking with the same numbers you’ve played for years. Either way, tonight’s drawing is shaping up to be one of the biggest moments of 2025. Will history be made this Labor Day? We’ll know in just a few hours.