The Powerball prizes are always an excellent reason to put in a ticket in the game! This American lottery offers the largest jackpot, but also the largest secondary prizes in the business. With prizes that have reached as far as $2.04 billion, there is so much to play for every single time in the US Powerball! Here is everything you need to know about Powerball prizes!
What Are the Powerball Prizes?
The US Powerball offers 9 prize categories in total. The jackpot always starts at $20 million, and it increases with every draw where it is not won. The first prize does not have a limit up to which it can grow, which has made it reach some overwhelming amounts over the years. In fact, Powerball holds the world record for the highest lottery jackpot with its $2.04 billion prize scooped by a single ticket from California on November 7, 2022. Its second prize of $1.58 billion won on January 2016 was holding the title of the biggest in the lottery world since 2016 and until the historical draw of 2022.
| Powerball Jackpot | |
|---|---|
| Requirements | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 |
| Minimum Amount | $20 Million |
| Maximum Amount | Unlimited |
| Record Amount | $2.04 Billion |
To win the jackpot, you have to match all the 5 main numbers and the Powerball. Aside from the pot, there are plenty of other amazing Powerball prizes you can win in the game by matching only some of the winning numbers. In the table below, you can see the full prize list:
| Prize Division | Match | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | Jackpot |
| 2nd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $1,000,000 |
| 3rd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $50,000 |
| 4th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $100 |
| 5th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $100 |
| 6th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ | $7 |
| 7th Prize | ⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $7 |
| 8th Prize | ⚪ + 🔴 | $4 |
| 9th Prize | 🔴 | $4 |
Except for the jackpot, all Powerball prizes are guaranteed. The 2nd prize of $1 million will be paid out in full to anyone who correctly matches the 5 main numbers, no matter how many winners there are. Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and are split by the holders of the winning tickets. If 2 tickets are $100 million jackpot winners, each Powerball ticket is entitled to $50 million.
The one big exception is the state of California, where all secondary prizes are pari-mutuel. Pari-mutuel prizes are set based on the amount from ticket sales and the winning tickets in a given prize category split the prize.
How Much Can Power Play Increase Powerball Prizes?
The Power Play multiplier is an optional feature that players can add to their tickets that can boost the secondary prizes in the Powerball lottery 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10 times. While jackpots can’t be increased by the multiplier, it can take others to some impressive amounts. The second prize worth $1 million can only be doubled with Power Play, but the following prize tiers will be increased according to the drawn multiplier. The Power Play number 10 is only available in the game when the jackpot is lower than $150 million.
| Prize Division | Prize | Power Play x2 | Power Play x3 | Power Play x4 | Power Play x5 | Power Play x10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 2nd Prize | $1 Million | $2 Million | $2 Million | $2 Million | $2 Million | $2 Million |
| 3rd Prize | $50,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 4th Prize | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 5th Prize | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 6th Prize | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 7th Prize | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 8th Prize | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| 9th Prize | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
How is the Power Play number chosen?
The Power Play number is not chosen by the players. It is drawn along with the Powerball lottery numbers from a separate barrel with 42 balls, that includes 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x balls. In the table below you can see the odds of each ball being drawn:
| Multiplier | Balls | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2X | 24 | 1:1.75 |
| 3X | 13 | 1:3.2 |
| 4X | 3 | 1:14 |
| 5X | 2 | 1:21 |
| TOTAL | 42 |
When the jackpot is lower than $150 million, another ball is added to the barrel, the 10x ball, which introduces the 10x multiplier. In the table below you can see the odds of each multiplier being drawn when there are 43 balls in the Power Play barrel:
| Multiplier | Balls | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2X | 24 | 1:1.79 |
| 3X | 13 | 1:3.3 |
| 4X | 3 | 1:14.3 |
| 5X | 2 | 1:21.5 |
| 10X | 1 | 1:43 |
| TOTAL | 43 |
Are Powerball Prizes Taxed?
In the United States, lottery winnings are subjected to taxation, both federal and state taxing. However, the taxation laws differ quite a lot from one state to another, which means that some states charge lottery winners higher taxes than others.
Powerball prizes are subjected to the taxation laws of the state where the ticket was purchased in. If you play Powerball online from outside the US and win, then your winnings will also be subjected to local taxation laws from your country.
The Odds of Winning Powerball Prizes
The odds of winning a prize in Powerball start at 1:38 for the 9th category prize, matching the Powerball. Winning the jackpot takes a little more luck, or you need to increase Powerball winning odds, as the chances are indeed more difficult to beat at 1:292,201,338. The most important thing to keep in mind is that it is possible to win Powerball. Thousands of people win Powerball prizes every year and you can be one of them!
| Prize Divisions | Match | Prize | Winning Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | Jackpot | 1:292,201,338 |
| 2nd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $1,000,000 | 1:111,688,053 |
| 3rd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $50,000 | 1:913,129 |
| 4th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $100 | 1:36,525 |
| 5th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $100 | 1:14,494 |
| 6th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ | $7 | 1:579 |
| 7th Prize | ⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $7 | 1:701 |
| 8th Prize | ⚪ + 🔴 | $4 | 1:92 |
| 9th Prize | 🔴 | $4 | 1:38 |
As you can see, Powerball offers amazing prizes from the jackpot all the way down to the last prize category. Don’t miss your chance to claim them for yourself! Play Powerball online today to win big!
Powerball Prizes FAQ
You need to match at least the Powerball number to win the last prize category in the game, worth $4. Matching all the main numbers and the Powerball scores you the jackpot.
There are 9 Powerball prizes you can win with each ticket. If you have the combination of winning numbers, then you get the prize.
No, you don’t need to have Power Play to win the jackpot. This is an optional feature that can increase the secondary prizes your win the game. To win the jackpot, you need to match the 5 main numbers and the Powerball.
No, you do not win anything if you only match one of the main numbers in the Powerball lottery. You need to have at least 1 main number and the Powerball or only the Powerball to win the 8th or 9th prize categories worth $4.
No, if you only have 2 numbers in the Powerball, you do not win any prize. If you have 2 numbers and the Powerball, you qualify for the 7th prize category worth $7.
Yes, you do. By matching the Powerball number only, you win the last prize category in the game worth $4.