New Jersey lottery player wins $1 million in Saturday’s Powerball as jackpot hits $543M

A New Jersey lottery player has a million reasons to be happy today.

Two tickets sold in NJ and Wisconsin matched all five white balls in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing to win $1 million each, according to the Powerball website. 

It was not immediately released where the winning million-dollar tickets were sold.

Powerball jackpot hits $543 million

Meanwhile, no one won it all Saturday so the jackpot will keep climbing to an estimated $543 million with a cash option of $272.2 million for Monday’s drawing.

The jackpot was last won on Oct. 11 when a lottery player in California won the $1.765 billion jackpot.

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Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, Dec. 16

Here are the Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023: 3 – 9 – 10 – 20 – 62 and Powerball 25. The Powerplay was 3x.

Looking for an edge? These are the luckiest Powerball numbers

When is the next Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are held three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Monday drawings were added in 2021.

Location, location, location: These are the states with the most Powerball jackpot winners

How late can I buy Powerball tickets?

The deadline for purchasing Powerball ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. The deadline in New Jersey is 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing, while New York’s deadline is 10 p.m.

Click here is a complete list of Powerball ticket deadline times by state or jurisdiction.

More: What would you do if you won the Powerball lottery? Survey answers might surprise you

How do I play Powerball?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Power Play for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot and Match 5). There is also a 10x Power Play possibility when the jackpot is less than $150 million.

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a quick pick ticket with random numbers for you.

Prizes vary from $4 for the matching the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can check all the prize payouts on the Powerball website here.

Beware: No, a lottery jackpot winner isn’t giving you money. How to spot a scammer

Where is the Powerball available?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. 

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Winner: New Jersey grandmother of 10 planning Disney trip after winning $1 million in Powerball

How can I watch Powerball drawing?

The Powerball drawing is broadcast live on the lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can watch the drawing by clicking here.

The drawing may be broadcast on a local television station in your market as well.

State lotteries: Where does all the money go?

What are my odds of winning?

Playing the Powerball can be exciting, but just don’t go spending those millions before you win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 292,201,338-to-1.

The odds to match all five white balls are 11,688,053-to-1.

Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery

Lump sum or annuity?

The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.

The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.

The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades for all the money.

Can I win jackpot and remain anonymous?

In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn’t always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.  

In other states, a winner’s name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.

Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots

Here are the Top 10 jackpots since the Powerball lottery began in 1992:

1. $2.04 billion, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
2. $1.765 billion, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
3. $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
4. $1.08 billion, July 19, 2023: Won in California
5. $768.4 million, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
6. $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
7. $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
8. $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
9. $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
10. $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York

What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?

Here’s a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: California
2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Illinois
8. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
9. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
10. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
11. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
12. $754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
13. $731.1 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
14. $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
15. $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
16. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland 
17. $648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
18. $632.6 million, Powerball, Jan. 5, 2022: Two winner in California, Wisconsin
19. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013: Won in Florida
20. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012: Two winners in Arizona, Missouri

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.