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Gary Cameron/Reuters
- A $935 million Powerball jackpot is up for grabs on Saturday's drawing.
- It would be the fifth-largest jackpot ever.
- But even if you don't win the jackpot, there are several ways to emerge victorious and a little richer.
On Saturday, March 30, the Powerball drawing will put a staggering $935 million jackpot prize on the table in what would be the fifth-largest lottery prize in US history.
After three months without a win, the hefty prize has climbed to an estimated cash value of $452.3 million. The next drawing comes after someone won the $842.4 million Powerball on New Year's day. A California resident won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in November 2022.
But even if the jackpot evaded you thus far, there are several other ways to emerge richer in future games.
For the uninitiated Powerball players who decide to impulsively purchase a ticket, we're here to break down all the possible ways you can win. You know, just in case.
First, the basics: The Powerball lotto is made up of six total numbers randomly selected three times per week. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. EST, a live drawing is held. All the numbers are printed on white or red balls and placed into an automated machine, which spits out the winning digits.
The first five numbers (white) are between 1 and 69. The final number (red) is called the Powerball. It can be anywhere between 1 and 26.
When purchasing a ticket, players can select all six numbers themselves or do a "quick pick" and receive a randomly generated set of numbers. Tickets are $2 each, but you can pay an extra $1 at the time of purchase to upgrade your ticket to "Power Play."
The "Power Play" add-on means your cash prize will, at minimum, double if you have a winning ticket for anything other than the grand prize jackpot.
So, what exactly are the winning tickets (aside from the jackpot)? The possible winning tickets and their cash prizes are as follows:
- Match all 5 white numbers only — $1 million
- Match 4 out of 5 white numbers + Powerball — $50,000
- Match 4 white numbers only — $100
- Match 3 white numbers + Powerball — $100
- Match 3 white numbers only — $7
- Match 2 white numbers + Powerball — $7
- Match 1 white number + Powerball — $4
- Powerball only — $4
The "Power Play" bonus is announced at the drawing time and does not apply to the jackpot winnings. If you've matched all five white numbers and selected "Power Play" at the time of your ticket purchase, you will win $2 million (instead of the standard $1 million). For all other prizes, the "Power Play" bonus will either be 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x your winnings.
The overall odds of winning any of the prizes starting at $4 is 1 in 24.87. But the chance of walking away with the jackpot is much slimmer: 1 in 292 million. On the off-chance you do take home a lump sum, don't forget to hire a lawyer. Most states give players at least 180 days to come forward.
Editor's note: This story was first published in January 2016 and has been updated to reflect recent developments.