Powerball Jackpot Crosses $700 Million, Approaches Rare Back-to-Back Major Jackpot Runs
JOHNSTON, Iowa (October 28, 2026) – The Powerball® jackpot has grown to an estimated $716 million for tonight’s drawing, with a cash value of $307.2 million.
The jackpot is now the second-largest Powerball jackpot of 2026 and continues to build momentum just two months after a player in Illinois won a $1.04 billion jackpot on Aug. 12.
“Large jackpots continue to capture the imagination of players across all participating lotteries,” said Stephen Durrell, Powerball Product Group Chair and Kansas Lottery Executive Director. “After awarding a billion-dollar jackpot just weeks ago, it’s exciting to see another jackpot climb past the $700 million mark and generate this level of enthusiasm among players.”
Powerball experienced its largest back-to-back jackpot runs in 2025. A $1.787 billion jackpot was won by two tickets in Missouri and Texas on Sept. 6, 2025, followed by a $1.817 billion jackpot won in Arkansas on Dec. 24, 2025, during the very next jackpot cycle.
The current jackpot run has also marked an important milestone for the game. It is the first jackpot cycle in which players in the United Kingdom have contributed to the prize pool from the beginning of the run. Since Powerball launched in the UK on July 21, 2026, every ticket sold has contributed equally to jackpot growth. The addition of UK players has expanded the overall player base, contributing to the participation that drives jackpot growth, without changing the game’s odds or prize structure.
If a player from a participating U.S. lottery wins tonight’s jackpot, they may choose to receive the prize as an annuity, paid in 30 increasing payments over 29 years, or as a one-time lump-sum payment. Both prize options are before taxes.
If a player in the UK wins the jackpot, the cash value of the Powerball jackpot will be transferred to the United Kingdom and paid to the winner over 30 years through The UK National Lottery.
Powerball® tickets cost $2 per play. Powerball is currently sold in 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.
More than half of every $2 Powerball ticket purchase remains in the jurisdiction where it is sold, helping fund public programs and services that benefit local communities. Since 1992, Powerball has generated an estimated $38 billion for good causes, including education and scholarships, veteran services, parks and recreation, and more. Powerball drawings are performed live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Powerball draw studio in Florida.
The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. For more information, visit Powerball.com.
2026 Powerball Jackpot Winners
Jan. 21, 2026 - $209.3 Million – North Carolina
March 2, 2026 - $250.8 Million – Arkansas
April 6, 2026 - $230.8 Million – Delaware
April 29, 2026 - $143 Million – Indiana, Kansas
May 2, 2026 - $20 Million – Florida, Texas
Aug. 12, 2026 - $1.04 Billion – Illinois
Top 10 Powerball Jackpots
$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
$1.817 Billion – Dec. 24, 2025 – AR
$1.787 Billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX
$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 – CA
$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR
$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
$1.04 Billion – Aug. 12, 2026 – IL
$842.4 Million – Jan. 1, 2024 – MI
$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
Media Contact
Anna Domoto
Powerball | Multi-State Lottery Association
+1 (515) 231-6901
