Find the exact odds for every Powerball prize category. From the jackpot to the minimum prize, we explain the mathematics behind one of the world's most popular lotteries.
Powerball is a multi-state American lottery drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Players choose 5 white balls from 1 to 69 and 1 red Powerball from 1 to 26. The total number of possible combinations is 292,201,338, making it one of the most challenging lotteries in the world — and one of the biggest jackpots.
| Prize Level | Match | Odds (1 in...) | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | 5 + Powerball | 292,201,338 | Jackpot (min $20M) |
| 2nd Prize | 5 (no Powerball) | 11,688,054 | $1,000,000 |
| 3rd Prize | 4 + Powerball | 913,129 | $50,000 |
| 4th Prize | 4 (no Powerball) | 36,525 | $100 |
| 5th Prize | 3 + Powerball | 14,494 | $100 |
| 6th Prize | 3 (no Powerball) | 580 | $7 |
| 7th Prize | 2 + Powerball | 701 | $7 |
| 8th Prize | 1 + Powerball | 92 | $4 |
| 9th Prize | Powerball only | 38 | $4 |
The overall odds of winning any prize in Powerball are approximately 1 in 24.9, meaning about 4% of tickets win something.
Powerball odds are determined using combinatorics. The formula combines the number of ways to choose the white balls and the Powerball separately:
Total combinations = C(69,5) Ă— C(26,1)
C(69,5) = 11,238,513 (ways to pick 5 white balls from 69)
C(26,1) = 26 (ways to pick 1 Powerball from 26)
Total: 11,238,513 Ă— 26 = 292,201,338
Powerball offers an optional multiplier called Power Play that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x. The 10x multiplier is only available when the jackpot is below $150 million. Power Play does not affect jackpot odds or prizes.
Powerball jackpot winners can choose between a lump-sum cash payment (approximately 60% of the advertised jackpot) or an annuity paid over 29 years (30 payments total). Most winners choose the lump sum, though the annuity option is generally worth more in total, before taxes.
Powerball prizes are subject to federal income tax (24% withholding) and state income tax, which varies by state. Some states (like California and Florida) do not tax lottery winnings. The actual take-home amount can be significantly less than the advertised jackpot.
Both Powerball and Mega Millions are US multi-state lotteries with enormous jackpots, but their odds differ slightly:
| Lottery | Jackpot Odds | Min Jackpot | Draws Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $20 million | 3 (Mon, Wed, Sat) |
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 | $20 million | 2 (Tue, Fri) |
| EuroMillions | 1 in 139,838,160 | €17 million | 2 (Tue, Fri) |
Mega Millions has slightly worse jackpot odds than Powerball, but both are considerably harder than EuroMillions. Despite the long odds, the enormous jackpots make both American lotteries extremely popular worldwide.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot (matching 5 white balls plus the Powerball) are exactly 1 in 292,201,338. That is roughly equivalent to flipping a coin and getting heads 28 times in a row.
Yes, proportionally. If you buy two tickets with different combinations, your odds double to 2 in 292,201,338. However, even with 100 tickets, your odds remain extremely low at roughly 1 in 2.9 million.
The easiest prize is matching only the Powerball (odds of 1 in 38), which pays $4. This means roughly 1 in every 38 tickets wins at least $4 through this method.
Yes. In October 2015, Powerball changed from a 5/59 + 1/35 format to the current 5/69 + 1/26 format, which significantly worsened the jackpot odds (from 1 in 175 million to 1 in 292 million) while improving the overall odds of winning a prize. This change was designed to create larger, more newsworthy jackpots.