A single ticket sold in Wisconsin matched all six numbers in the Wednesday night Powerball® drawing to win the third-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history. Due to strong ticket sales, the jackpot climbed to an estimated $768.4 million at the time of the drawing with a cash option of $477 million.
“It’s going to be a very green spring for our first Powerball jackpot winner(s) of 2019,” said David Barden, Powerball Product Group Chairman and New Mexico Lottery CEO. “A jackpot of this size can make many dreams come true - not just for the winner(s), but for all Lottery beneficiaries and the lucky state of Wisconsin.”
The lucky ticket holder(s) will have the choice between an estimated annuity of $768.4 million, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump sum payment of $477 million. Both prize options are before taxes.
The jackpot ranks as the third largest in U.S. lottery history behind the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016, and the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina last October.
The winning numbers in the Wednesday, March 27 drawing were white balls 16, 20, 37, 44, 62, plus Powerball 12, and Power Play multiplier 3X.
Participating lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets for one of the nine ways to win. In Wednesday’s drawing alone, more than 5.4 million tickets won prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million.
Seven tickets matched all five white balls, but missed matching the red Powerball in Wednesday’s drawing to win a $1 million prize. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in Arizona, California (2), Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey and New York. Two other tickets, sold in Kansas and Minnesota, matched all five white balls and doubled the prize to $2 million, because the tickets included the Power Play® option for an additional $1.
Wednesday’s drawing was the 26th drawing since the last time the Powerball jackpot was hit on Dec. 26, 2018 in New York.
For the next drawing on Saturday, March 30, the Powerball jackpot resets to a guaranteed $40 million; $24.8 million cash value. The 10X multiplier will be in play as part of the Power Play® option, since the advertised jackpot is under $150 million.
Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes with the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play. Tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
A portion of every Powerball ticket sold directly benefits the jurisdiction in which it was purchased.