TRENTON (September 5, 2025) – The Powerball jackpot is now an estimated $1.8 billion heading into Saturday night’s drawing, the second highest jackpot in U.S. Lottery History. A California Powerball player won the record top prize of $2.04 billion Nov. 7, 2022.

The current listed jackpot is in annuity form, payable over 30 years. Players have the option to take the lump-sum cash payment, which stands at about $826.4 million. No lump-sum payment has ever topped $1 billion. The California prize in 2022 paid out a cash value of $997,617,687.

“Whether you take the cash or the annuity depends on your individual situation,” New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey said. “If you’re the winner, you should talk to a financial professional for guidance. Take time to make well-informed decisions.”

New Jersey has seen several big wins in the past decade. “In my seven years (as director), I’ve met six winners of Powerball or Mega Millions jackpots,” Mr. Carey said. He presided over the largest prize ever won in the Garden State, a $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot hit in March 2024 in the Monmouth County township of Neptune. Two months later, a player in Camden County won a $220 million Powerball jackpot.

The most recent Powerball jackpot was won May 31. Saturday’s drawing will be the 42nd since that prize was won, the longest run in game history. The drawing is conducted from the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee and is shown on YouTube at 10:59 p.m.

“I love the buzz this jackpot run has created,” Mr. Carey said. “It underscores just how fun the Lottery can be for our players. It gives us all a chance to dream about ‘what if.’”

The top six Lottery jackpots of all time are:

• Powerball: $2.04 billion, Nov. 7, 2022, California;
• Powerball: $1.7 billion, current run;
• Powerball: $1.765 billion, Oct. 11, 2023, California;
• Mega Millions: $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023, Florida;
• Powerball: $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016, California, Florida, Tennessee;
• Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018, South Carolina.

Since May 31, 1.6 million New Jersey residents have won secondary prizes. Among those, 50 Garden State players have won prizes of at least $50,000. That list includes four $1 million payouts, one $300,000, one $150,000 and five $100,000.

“Powerball creates lots of winners beyond the jackpot,” Mr. Carey said. “Since May, retailers have earned commissions, which have exceed $4 million, and the contribution to the state from ticket sales is significant and amounts to over $32 million.”

Players are reminded that Lottery games are for fun and entertainment. It only takes one ticket to get in the game. The Lottery promotes responsible play through its cooperation with the Council of Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and by promoting the Council’s helpline phone number, 1-800-GAMBLER, on all Lottery marketing and advertising materials.