9 ways you can win money in the Powerball jackpot (2024)

  • A $935 million Powerball jackpot is up for grabs on Saturday's drawing.
  • It would be the fifth-largest jackpot ever.
  • But even if you don't win the jackpot, there are several ways to emerge victorious and a little richer.

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9 ways you can win money in the Powerball jackpot (3)

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On Saturday, March 30, the Powerball drawing will put a staggering $935 million jackpot prize on the table in what would be the fifth-largest lottery prize in US history.

After three months without a win, the hefty prize has climbed to an estimated cash value of $452.3 million.The next drawing comes after someone won the $842.4 million Powerball on New Year's day. A California resident won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in November 2022.

But even if the jackpot evaded you thus far, there are several other ways to emerge richer in future games.

For the uninitiated Powerball players who decide to impulsively purchase a ticket, we're here to break down all the possible ways you can win. You know, just in case.

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First, the basics: The Powerball lotto is made up of six total numbers randomly selected three times per week. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. EST, a live drawing is held. All the numbers are printed on white or red balls and placed into an automated machine, which spits out the winning digits.

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The first five numbers (white) are between 1 and 69. The final number (red) is called the Powerball. It can be anywhere between 1 and 26.

When purchasing a ticket, players can select all six numbers themselves or do a "quick pick" and receive a randomly generated set of numbers. Tickets are $2 each, but you can pay an extra $1 at the time of purchase to upgrade your ticket to "Power Play."

The "Power Play" add-on means your cash prize will, at minimum, double if you have a winning ticket for anything other than the grand prize jackpot.

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So, what exactly are the winning tickets (aside from the jackpot)? The possiblewinning tickets and their cash prizesare as follows:

  • Match all 5white numbersonly— $1 million
  • Match4 out of 5 white numbers +Powerball — $50,000
  • Match 4 white numbers only— $100
  • Match 3 white numbers +Powerball — $100
  • Match 3 white numbers only — $7
  • Match 2 white numbers + Powerball — $7
  • Match 1 white number + Powerball — $4
  • Powerball only — $4

The "Power Play" bonus is announced at the drawing time and does not apply to the jackpot winnings. If you've matched all five white numbers and selected "Power Play" at the time of your ticket purchase, you will win $2 million (instead of the standard $1 million). For all other prizes, the "Power Play" bonus will either be 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x your winnings.

The overall odds of winning any of the prizes starting at $4 is 1 in 24.87. But the chance of walking away with the jackpot is much slimmer: 1 in 292 million. On the off-chance you do take home a lump sum, don't forget to hire a lawyer. Most states give players at least 180 days to come forward.

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Editor's note: This story was first published in January 2016 and has been updated to reflect recent developments.

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9 ways you can win money in the Powerball jackpot (4)

9 ways you can win money in the Powerball jackpot (2024)

FAQs

9 ways you can win money in the Powerball jackpot? ›

Players win a prize by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball. Jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment.

How many ways can you win money on the Powerball? ›

Players win a prize by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball. Jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment.

What's the trick to winning the Powerball? ›

Experts suggest that you should add up the five numbers you pick and try to stay within a target range. The preferred range is between 140 and 240 after your five number are added together. More than half of the winning number combinations fall in that range.

How do you increase your chances of winning the Powerball? ›

To better your chances of winning any lottery, you have to buy more tickets, he said. The more tickets, the more chances of choosing the right combination of numbers.

What happens if you get all 5 numbers but not the Powerball? ›

Matching three main numbers and the Powerball or four main numbers, that's a $100 payout. To land a $50,000 prize, you'll have to match four main numbers and the Powerball. If you match five main numbers but not the Powerball, your ticket is worth $1 million.

What are the possible payouts for Powerball? ›

Prize Chart
PrizePower Play 2XPower Play 3X
Grand PrizeGrand PrizeGrand Prize
$1 Million$2 Million$2 Million
$50,000$100,000$150,000
$100$200$300
5 more rows

How many numbers do you need to win anything on Powerball? ›

You only need to match one number in Powerball to win a prize. However, that number must be the Powerball worth $4. Visit powerball.com for the entire prize chart.

Do quick picks ever win the Powerball? ›

Chances of winning the lotto between playing quick picks or selecting your own numbers are both equal. “Around 70 to 80 percent of Powerball players use Quick Pick tickets, and the same percentage of winning entries are Quick Picks,” one report said.

Is there a pattern to win Powerball? ›

There is no wrong way to choose Powerball numbers. There's also no magic formula to pick the winning numbers. But ... we went back and looked at the winning numbers for every drawing since the jackpot started at $20 million in April. We didn't find a particular pattern.

Is there a strategy for Powerball? ›

Some Powerball veterans and lotto winners employ a strategy of picking numbers that lottery data-gathering sites identify as the statistically “least drawn.” The theory is that numbers that have been drawn the least number of times will eventually become due or even “overdue” to be drawn.

Who won the lottery 14 times? ›

In the 1990s, Romanian-Australian economist Stefan Mandel and his small team entered the lottery and won. Over and over and over again. The feat, of course, wasn't achieved through having a really lucky set of numbers.

What are the 5 most common Powerball numbers? ›

According to USA Mega, which collects data since October 2015, the five most popular numbers are 61, 32, 21, 63, and 36. The most popular Powerball number is 18. Here are the least popular numbers for those contrarians in the crowd: 13, 34, 49, 29, and 26. The least popular Powerball number is 15.

What is the difference between a 2 dollar and 3 dollar Powerball ticket? ›

The Power Play option — which costs an extra $1.00, turning a $2 ticket into a $3 ticket — does the following: has no effect on the Jackpot/Grand Prize, always doubles the payout of the second-most-lucrative prize, and.

How much do you win if you get 4 numbers but not the Powerball? ›

4 numbers - $100

The odds of buying a ticket containing four numbers without the Powerball almost double again to 36,525 to 1 chance, but the prize stays the same at $100.

How do you win if you only have the Powerball number? ›

Yes, if you just hit the Powerball number, you win $4.

This gives you the $2 purchase of your ticket back, plus an extra $2. According to Powerball's official website, the odds of your ticket matching only the Powerball is 1 in 38.32.

Does 2 numbers in Powerball win any money? ›

Match 2 white numbers + Powerball — $7. Match 1 white number + Powerball — $4. Powerball only — $4.

What do you win if you have 3 of the Powerball numbers? ›

3 numbers - $7 again.

What is the difference between a $2 and a $3 Powerball ticket? ›

Powerball Costs: The Bottom Line

The Powerball ticket price is $2 per play. You can add Power Play for $1, bringing the total to $3 per ticket. The Double Play add-on also costs an additional $1 for a total of $3 per ticket. You can add both Power Play and Double Play for a total of $4 per ticket.

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