Lottery News: Mega Millions Jackpot Hits, Powerball Reaches $1 Billion, Michigan Man’s Meltdown

Posted on: December 13, 2025, 08:42h. 

Last updated on: December 13, 2025, 08:42h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • A New Jersey man quickly redeemed his $90 million Mega Millions prize
  • Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is an estimated $1 billion
  • Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is giving away free Powerball tickets through a marketing promotion

The Mega Millions winner who won a $90 million jackpot during the Dec. 2 drawing didn’t waste much time deliberating how to receive his life-changing funds.

lottery news Powerball Mega Millions jackpot
People purchase lottery tickets at a liquor store in Hawthorne, CA, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. The Powerball jackpot for the Dec. 13, 2025, drawing is an estimated $1 billion. (Image: Getty)

Mega Millions reports that a man walked into a New Jersey Lottery office just days after his ticket matched the winning numbers of 17, 25, 26, 53, 60, and the gold Mega Ball 16.

While the winner wished to remain anonymous, he shared some interesting details about what had preempted his Mega Millions win.

I was up (the night of the drawing). Hoping for something. Then, whomp, a bird hit my window,” the newly minted multimillionaire told lottery officials. “I knew something was coming for me, but I didn’t know just what.”

“I played some of my numbers for Pick-4. Nothing,” the player said, explaining his winless streak prompted him to try his luck on Mega Millions, a jackpot that comes with odds of 1 in 290.47 million.

“I finished work, and I came in and played the Mega and used all of my numbers,” the winner said.

The New Jersey man opted for the one-time cash option of $41.9 million. After federal and state taxes, the payout came to about $24 million. 

Powerball Hits $1 Billion

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is an estimated $1 billion, with the cash value at $457.7 million. The jackpot ranks as the seventh-largest in Powerball history.

The current Powerball run has endured 41 drawings without a jackpot hit. If the jackpot isn’t won tonight, the run will set a new record for the longest Powerball drought.

The streak also makes history by marking the first back-to-back jackpot of more than $1 billion in any US lottery game’s history.

Top Ten Powerball Jackpots

  1. $2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
  2. $1.787 Billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX
  3. $1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 – CA
  4. $1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
  5. $1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR
  6. $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
  7. $1 Billion est. – Dec. 13, 2025
  8. $842.4 Million – Jan. 1, 2024 – MI
  9. $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
  10. $758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA

Portnoy Slings Jackpocket Following Michigan Man Meltdown

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy took time out of his Michigan Man meltdown on X to shill Jackpocket, DraftKings’ courier service that allows users to purchase lottery tickets online in 15 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

Portnoy, on a quick break from being hysterical about the scandal surrounding Michigan’s former football coach, Sherrone Moore, told his 3.7 million X followers how to get a free Powerball play for tonight’s $1 billion jackpot.

“It’s jackpot season. We teamed up with Jackpocket, the best way to download lottery tickets right on your phone,” Portnoy said. “I’m paying attention, Powerball, Mega Millions, these jackpots are going to the moon.”