Powerball Jackpot Resets to $20 Million After $143 Million Win Produces Two Winners and 91 Millionaires

Key facts

• Powerball jackpot reset to $20 million ($9 million cash) for May 2 drawing.
• Two jackpot winners on April 29: tickets sold in Kansas and Indiana.
• 91 millionaires emerged from the April 29 drawing.
• Nearly 90 other players won prizes of $1 million to $2 million across 20 states.
• New Jersey had 18 of those big winners, the most of any state.
• Powerball launched in 1992 and has produced nearly 200 jackpot wins.
• 45 U.S. states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, participate.
• Five states do not offer Powerball: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

A Record-Breaking Drawing Resets the Jackpot

The Powerball jackpot has been reset to $20 million, or $9 million in cash, ahead of the May 2 drawing after a $143 million win on Wednesday, April 29. The winning tickets were sold in Kansas and Indiana, according to lottery officials. The drawing produced not only two jackpot winners but also created 91 millionaires in a single night.

Two Jackpot Winners and a Wave of Millionaires

Wednesday’s drawing didn’t just create two jackpot winners. Nearly 90 other players across 20 states won Powerball prizes ranging from $1 million to $2 million, with New Jersey leading the way. Eighteen of those big winners came from the Garden State. In total, 91 players became millionaires overnight.

How Powerball Works and Who Can Play

Powerball tickets cost $2 per play, except in Idaho and Montana where Powerball is bundled with Power Play for a minimum of $3. Players select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. The jackpot grows until it is won, and players win prizes by matching one of nine ways. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball. Jackpot winners may choose an annuity paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years or a lump-sum payment; both advertised prize options are before federal and jurisdictional taxes. Non-U.S. citizens and non-residents can also play if they are in a participating jurisdiction and meet the legal age requirement, usually 18.

Power Play and Prize Multipliers

For an additional $1 per play, the Power Play feature can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times. The Match 5 prize with Power Play is always $2 million. The multiplier number is randomly selected before each drawing, and the 10X multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot annuity is $150 million or less. Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sales cut-off times vary by one to two hours before the drawing, depending on the jurisdiction.

Historical Context and Record Jackpots

Powerball says the jackpot has been hit nearly 200 times since the game launched in 1992. The largest jackpot in history was $2.040 billion on November 7, 2022, in California. Other record jackpots include $1.817 billion on December 24, 2025, in Arkansas; $1.787 billion on September 6, 2025, in Missouri and Texas; $1.765 billion on October 11, 2023, in California; and $1.586 billion on January 13, 2016, in California, Florida, and Tennessee. Only five states do not offer Powerball: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

Recent Developments and Future Outlook

The Powerball broadcast system is getting a satellite upgrade for more reliable broadcasts. The United Kingdom is set to join Powerball, which may boost prizes but could also lead to more shared jackpots for U.S. winners. In other recent news, a $231 million Powerball jackpot win set a new record in Delaware, topping a 20-year-old record. Meanwhile, a $167 million Powerball winner from 2025 continues to face legal issues, with another arrest adding to a growing list. The Florida Lottery has started 2026 fast, producing one millionaire every 1.7 days, with 52 players hitting seven figures in just 90 days.

The Allure and Risks of the Game

Powerball remains a game of chance, with experts insisting that outcomes are unpredictable despite occasional claims of systems to beat the odds. One man claimed 'alien' voices helped him win lottery prizes by decoding sounds into numbers, but such methods have no scientific basis. As the jackpot resets to $20 million, players across the country and beyond will continue to chase the dream of becoming the next multimillionaire, aware that the odds are long but the potential rewards are life-changing.

The bottom line

• The Powerball jackpot reset to $20 million after a $143 million win on April 29 produced two jackpot winners and 91 millionaires.
• Winning tickets for the April 29 drawing were sold in Kansas and Indiana.
• Nearly 90 players across 20 states won prizes of $1 million to $2 million, with New Jersey having the most winners (18).
• Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; five states do not participate.
• Non-U.S. citizens can play Powerball if they are in a participating jurisdiction and meet age requirements.
• The United Kingdom is set to join Powerball, potentially increasing prizes but also the chance of shared jackpots.