Powerball Jackpot for Christmas Eve Drawing Climbs to $1.7 Billion
Posted on: December 23, 2025, 10:11h.
Last updated on: December 23, 2025, 10:16h.
- The Christmas Eve Powerball jackpot is an estimated $1.7 billion
- The jackpot run has run a record 46 drawings without a jackpot win
The Powerball jackpot stands to deliver the ultimate gift this Christmas season, as the lottery game’s top prize grew to $1.7 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers on Monday night.
The Powerball jackpot hasn’t hit since September 6, when tickets sold in Missouri and Texas split a $1.787 billion prize, the second-largest lottery win in the history of the United States. On Wednesday night, the estimated annuitized prize of $1.7 billion is the fourth-largest lottery prize up for grabs in US history.
Wednesday’s Christmas Eve drawing goes down at 10:59 pm ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee.
Much like the holidays, Powerball is a game that brings people together to dream big and hope for a brighter future,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “We hope this growing jackpot inspires excitement and joy, and, most importantly, goodwill to all.”
The Powerball jackpot has hit just once on Christmas Eve (2011) and four times on Christmas Day (1996, 2002, 2010, and 2013).
Wednesday’s $1.7 billion jackpot comes with a one-time cash option of $781.3 million. Both are before federal and possibly state taxes.
Record US Lottery Jackpots
- $2.04 Billion – Powerball – Nov. 7, 2022 – Calif.
- $1.787 Billion – Powerball – Sept. 6, 2025 – Mo., Texas
- $1.765 Billion – Powerball – Oct. 11, 2023 – Calif.
- $1.70 Billion est. – Powerball – Dec. 24, 2025
- $1.602 Billion – Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – Fla.
- $1.586 Billion – Powerball – Jan. 13, 2016 – Calif., Fla., Tenn.
- $1.537 Billion – Mega Millions – Oct. 23, 2018 – SC
- $1.348 Billion – Mega Millions – Jan. 13, 2023 – Maine
- $1.337 Billion – Mega Millions – July 29, 2022 – Ill.
- $1.326 Billion – Powerball – April 6, 2024 – Ore.
Monday Winners
While no ticket overcame the odds of one in more than 292.2 million to hit the Powerball jackpot during the December 22 drawing, nine plays came oh so close. Those tickets matched the five white numbers of 3, 18, 36, 41, and 54, but missed the red Powerball 7, to win Powerball’s second-best prize of $1 million. None of the tickets opted for the optional $1 add-on Power Play, which would have doubled their payout to $2 million.
There were 107 tickets that matched four of the white balls and the red Powerball to win $50K each. Another 28 did too, but had the Power Play to double their wins to $100K.
In total, there were 4,400,045 tickets that won some sort of prize, but 3,222,464 only won $2 by matching the Powerball or the Powerball and one white ball. The game’s overall odds of winning across all prize levels are one in 24.9.
Tax Breakdown
Should the Powerball hit on Christmas Eve and the lone winner opt for the one-time cash payout, the $781.3 million would be immediately reduced by approximately $289 million in federal taxes. The US government considers lottery winnings as taxable personal income, and therefore, the winner would need to send Uncle Sam 37%, the rate for filers in the highest tax bracket.
The net payout of $492.26 million would then be subject to state taxes. Nine states do not tax lottery winnings. They are California, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. A Powerball jackpot win in Puerto Rico also would not be subject to local taxes.
Players facing the highest lottery taxes are in New York (10.9%), Washington, DC (10.75%), and New Jersey (10.75%).
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