The Powerball drawing on September 23, 2024, had everyone on the edge of their seats with a staggering jackpot of $750 million at stake. The highly anticipated drawing concluded with a single winning ticket sold in California, marking one of the biggest wins in the history of the Powerball lottery.
Winning Numbers and Prize Breakdown
The winning numbers for the September 23 draw were 6, 23, 25, 34, 51, and the Powerball number was 3. The winner now has the choice between an annuity valued at $750 million or a lump sum payment of approximately $350.6 million, both options before taxes.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the winning combinations and the number of winners:
| Match | Number of Winners | Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | 1 | $750 million (Annuity) |
| 5 | 0 | $1 million |
| 4 + Powerball | 2 | $37,953 |
| 4 | 54 | $423 |
| 3 + Powerball | 159 | $149 |
| 3 | 3,788 | $7 |
| 2 + Powerball | 3,140 | $8 |
| 1 + Powerball | 22,537 | $5 |
| Powerball | 52,965 | $4 |
The jackpot for this draw ranks as the seventh largest in Powerball history, demonstrating the game’s continuous popularity and the excitement it generates among participants nationwide.
California’s Lucky Winner
The winning ticket was sold at a retail location in California, making this the latest in a series of substantial wins for the state. The lucky ticket holder is now faced with the monumental decision of choosing between the annuity option, which offers one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments increasing by 5% each year, or the lump sum option.
Odds and Interesting Facts
Winning the Powerball jackpot is no easy feat. The odds of matching all five numbers plus the Powerball are 1 in 292.2 million. Despite these astronomical odds, millions of tickets are sold across 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for every drawing, all vying for a chance at life-changing prizes.
Powerball tickets are priced at $2 each, with an additional $1 for the Power Play option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes. For this particular drawing, the Power Play multiplier was 3x, which boosted several non-jackpot prizes.
Recent History of Big Wins
This jackpot comes just a few months after the third billion-dollar Powerball prize was won in California on July 19, 2023. Since then, the jackpot rolled over 27 times without a winner, building up to the massive $750 million prize that was finally claimed.
Claiming the Prize
For the California winner, the next steps involve contacting the California State Lottery to begin the claim process. Prizes over $599 must be claimed at a Lottery District Office or by mail. It’s important to note that winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their prize.
What’s Next for Powerball?
With the jackpot now reset to an estimated $20 million, the excitement continues as players nationwide prepare for the next drawing. Whether it’s the thrill of the potential life-changing win or simply the fun of participating, Powerball continues to capture the imagination of lottery enthusiasts.
The Powerball drawings are held three times a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. EST and are broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee.
So, if you’re feeling lucky, grab your ticket for the next draw—you never know, the next big winner could be you!