The odds of winning Powerball and Mega Millions are not in your favor
The odds of winning the jackpot with Mega Millions or Powerball are approximately 1 in 292 million. Here, we will introduce things that are more likely to be obtained than large sums of money.
One lucky person in North Carolina has won the first Powerball jackpot of 2026, estimated at $209 million.
According to the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL), winners can choose between receiving a $209.3 million annuity or a $95.3 million lump sum.
The Powerball website says the jackpot was reset to $20 million after a yet-to-be-identified person won the jackpot in Wednesday night’s drawing, January 21st.
It’s been nearly a month since someone in Arkansas won a $1.8 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history. Tickets were sold in Cabot, Arkansas, about 30 miles from Little Rock.
According to Arkansas law, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes in person, with a June 22 deadline.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Powerball wins.
Who won the Powerball jackpot?
It’s not immediately clear who won the Powerball jackpot or where the winning ticket was purchased.
However, under certain conditions, winners may remain anonymous.
According to NCEL, a winner’s name, city, county and winning amount are considered public record unless the winner can provide a confidentiality order or Address Confidentiality Program authorization card.
What were the winning Powerball numbers on January 21st?
Here are the winning numbers for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing: 11, 26, 27, 53, 55. Powerball is 12. It was a power play 2x.
Top 10 Powerball Jackpots
- $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
- December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
- $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
- $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
- January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
- April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
- $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
- January 1, 2024, $842.4 million in Michigan.
- March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
- August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts
Do I have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?
The short answer is no. You do not need to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball. If you visit one of the 45 states where Powerball can be played, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, anyone, regardless of nationality, can purchase lottery tickets from authorized and licensed retailers as long as they meet the legal age requirements (usually 18 years old) at the time of purchase.
How to play Powerball
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are sold at a variety of locations including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. In some states, you can purchase Powerball tickets online.
Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls numbered from 1 to 69. The red Powerball range is 1-26. You can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases your winnings on all non-jackpot prizes. “Power Play” multipliers can increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.
A “Quick Pick” option is available if you want the computer to select the numbers for you. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls with the red Powerball in any order.
Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. If no one wins the jackpot, the prize continues to rise.
Winning Lottery Numbers is sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA TODAY Network.
Can I get Powerball tickets online?
You can also order tickets online Jackpocket, USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery delivery companythe following states and territories of the United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and West Virginia.
The Jackpocket app allows you to choose your lottery games and numbers, place your order, check your tickets, and claim your winnings, all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery carrier of USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to the Jackpocket Service. Must be 18 years or older, 21 years or older in Arizona, 19 years or older in Nebraska. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (ALL OTHERS). visitjackpocket.com/tos Over the entire period.
Julia Gomez is a trends reporter for USA TODAY, covering scientific research, natural disasters, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamaigz or email jgomez@hannett.com..
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
