Two Tickets Split $143.4 Million Powerball Jackpot in Wednesday Drawing

Key facts

• Jackpot: $143.4 million annuity, $65.2 million cash lump sum.
• Two winning tickets, each worth $71.7 million.
• Drawings held every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
• Powerball costs $2 per play; $3 in Idaho and Montana with Power Play.
• Players pick five numbers (1-69) and one Powerball (1-26).
• Match all five white balls and the Powerball to win jackpot.

Wednesday's Drawing Produces Two Jackpot Winners

The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday's drawing reached $143.4 million, with a cash lump-sum value of $65.2 million. Two tickets matched all six numbers, each claiming $71.7 million before federal and state taxes. The identities of the winners have not been disclosed. The drawing took place at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee at 10:59 p.m. ET, as scheduled. Powerball draws occur three times weekly: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at the same time. Sales cut-off times vary by jurisdiction, typically one to two hours before the draw.

How the Game Works and Prize Tiers

A standard Powerball play costs $2, except in Idaho and Montana where it is bundled with Power Play for a minimum $3. Players select five white ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball from 1 to 26. They may choose their own numbers or opt for a random quick pick. Prizes are awarded for matching at least the Powerball alone, with nine ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order plus the red Powerball. Winners can choose an annuity paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years or a lump sum, both before taxes.

Power Play Multiplier Option Available for Extra $1

For an additional $1 per play, the Power Play feature multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. The multiplier is randomly selected before each drawing. The Match 5 prize with Power Play is always $2 million. The 10X multiplier is only active 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. Drawings are broadcast live and results are posted shortly after.

Recent Draws Saw Hundreds of Thousands of Winners

The most recent draw produced 361,665 winners across all prize tiers. Previous draws also saw large numbers: 344,137, 490,122, 381,457, 287,184, 441,353, 307,972, 263,591, 438,261, and 315,766 winners. These figures include all prize levels from the jackpot down to the $4 Powerball match. The Double Play numbers, an additional feature, are available on the prize breakdown page. Historical results dating back to 1992 are archived and searchable by year.

Jackpot Resets for Saturday's Drawing

With the jackpot won, the prize resets to its base annuity of $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday. The cash value will be determined closer to the draw. Ticket sales resume immediately in all participating jurisdictions. Players are reminded that the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The game continues to generate substantial revenue for state programs, as lottery proceeds often fund education, infrastructure, and other public services.

The bottom line

• Two tickets split the $143.4 million Powerball jackpot in Wednesday's drawing.
• Each winner receives $71.7 million before taxes; lump-sum option is $65.2 million total.
• Drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
• Powerball is available in 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
• The Power Play multiplier can increase non-jackpot prizes up to 10 times for $1 extra.
• The jackpot resets to $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday.