Just in time for the holidays, the Powerball jackpot now stands at a staggering $1.5 billion, the fifth largest jackpot in lottery history.
If a ticket matches all five numbers as well as the Powerball numbers drawn on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 11 p.m. ET, the winner has the option of a one-time cash payment of $686.5 million before taxes.
The Powerball jackpot has rolled more than 45 times since Sept. 6, when two lottery tickets in Missouri and Texas won the second-largest jackpot in the game’s history: $1.787 billion.
A man holds a ticket for the $1.25 billion jackpot in the New York City Powerball drawing on December 17, 2025.
Top 10 Powerball jackpot winners
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$2.04 billion: November 7, 2022 – California
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$1.787 billion: September 6, 2025 – Texas and Missouri
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$1.765 billion: October 11, 2023 – California
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$1.586 billion: January 13, 2016 – California, Florida, Tennessee
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$1.5 billion: Current jackpot
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$1.326 billion: April 6, 2024 – Oregon
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$1.08 billion: July 19, 2023 – California
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$842.4 million: January 1, 2024 – Michigan
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$768.4 million: March 27, 2019 – Wisconsin
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$758.7 million: August 23, 2017 – Massachusetts
December 20, 2025 Powerball Winning Numbers
Winning numbers for Saturday’s draw: 4-5-28-52-69 Powerball is 20.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
How to play Powerball
To play Powerball, you must purchase a ticket for $2. You can do this at a number of locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and even grocery stores. In some states, Powerball tickets can be purchased online.
Once you get your ticket, you need to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls with numbers from 1 to 69. The red power ball has numbers from 1 to 26. People can also add a “power play” for $1, which increases the odds of winning on all non-jackpot jackpots.
“Power Play” multipliers can multiply winnings: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x.
If you’re feeling unlucky or want the computer to do the work for you, you can use the Quick Pick option, where computer-generated numbers will be printed on the Powerball ticket. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the red Power Ball in any order.
Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will continue to increase.
Where to buy lottery tickets
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also book tickets online via the following methods Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Networkin these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select lottery games and numbers, place your order, view your tickets and claim your winnings, all from your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewers recommending Jackpocket services. Must be 18 years or older, 21 years or older in Arizona, 19 years or older in Northeastern states. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Please call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (New York); 1-800-327-5050 (Massachusetts); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GABLER (all others). access jackpocket.com/tos Full Terms.
This story has been updated with new information.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a popular news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Winning Powerball numbers worth $1.5B for Dec. 20 lottery jackpot
