Powerball Jackpot Reaches $835 Million, Among the Game’s 10 Largest Ever
The Powerball jackpot reached an estimated $835 million for Wednesday’s drawing, making it one of the largest prizes in the history of the game. If won, it would rank as the tenth-largest Powerball jackpot ever, and it was the second-largest prize of the year at the time of the announcement.
The drawing was scheduled for Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Players faced long odds, but the size of the prize put Powerball back in the national spotlight, as jackpots often do when they climb toward the billion-dollar range.
How Big Is the $835 Million Jackpot?
At $835 million, the estimated jackpot sits among the top 10 prizes the game has ever offered. It was the second-largest prize of the year when it was announced, behind only a larger jackpot won earlier in the year.
The alternative for a US winner was a lump-sum cash payment of $357.9 million before taxes. Winners can usually choose between that one-time cash amount and an annuity paid out over many years.
Drawing Time and Odds
The drawing was scheduled for Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The odds of winning the jackpot were 1 in 292.2 million, which means the chance of any single ticket hitting all the numbers was extremely small.
Those odds did not change with the size of the jackpot. Every drawing carries the same odds, no matter how large the prize grows.
How It Compares With Past Jackpots
The $835 million prize was smaller than two recent record-setting jackpots. A $1.04 billion prize was won in Illinois in August, and the all-time record remains the $2.04 billion prize won in California in 2022.
Even so, reaching the top 10 all time is a rare event for the game, and it explains why ticket sales and public interest tend to rise sharply as jackpots climb.
The UK Expansion Detail
This jackpot was also notable for another reason. It was the first jackpot fully built by players on both sides of the Atlantic after Powerball sales expanded to the United Kingdom in July.
The $2 ticket price and the odds stayed the same after the expansion. One difference applies to a UK winner, who would be paid over 30 years rather than receiving a lump-sum payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drawing was scheduled for Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. ET, as announced on November 4, 2026.
The lump-sum cash payment for a US winner was $357.9 million before taxes.
The odds of winning the jackpot were 1 in 292.2 million.
The record is the $2.04 billion prize won in California in 2022.
No. A UK winner would be paid over 30 years rather than as a lump sum.
Conclusion
The $835 million Powerball jackpot combined a huge prize, a top-10 place in the game’s history, and a new transatlantic chapter for the lottery. Whether anyone won the Wednesday drawing is a separate question from the size of the prize, and players should check official Powerball results for the outcome.
Based on CNN reporting of the jackpot, without any link.
