Powerball Guide
Here's what people usually want to know before or after buying a Powerball ticket — the real odds, what each prize pays, how taxes work, and the choice between a lump sum and an annuity. The figures below come from the official Powerball prize chart and US tax rules.
How to play
A Powerball ticket has you pick five white balls from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball from 1 to 26. A play costs $2. For an extra $1, Power Play multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x. However you fill the slots, the odds are the same — they're set by the game, not by your picks.
The odds and prize chart
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.87. Each tier below pays a fixed amount except the jackpot, which changes every draw.
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 | $1,000,000 | 1 in 11,688,053 |
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129 |
| 4 | $100 | 1 in 36,525 |
| 3 + Powerball | $100 | 1 in 14,494 |
| 3 | $7 | 1 in 580 |
| 2 + Powerball | $7 | 1 in 701 |
| 1 + Powerball | $4 | 1 in 92 |
| Powerball only | $4 | 1 in 38 |
Taxes
The IRS withholds 24% of a large prize up front. Because a big win lands in the top federal bracket, more can be owed when you file — the top federal rate is 37%. State taxes vary widely: some states take nothing, while others withhold around 10% or more. We don't estimate a jackpot's take-home here, because both the advertised jackpot and the state rules differ from one winner to the next.
Lump sum vs annuity
A jackpot winner can take the annuity — paid out over 29 years in yearly installments that grow each year — or a smaller one-time cash amount. You have 60 days from the draw to choose, and the annuity is the default. Taxes apply either way; the annuity spreads the income across years, while the cash option is taxed in one.
Claiming a prize
Claim deadlines are set by each state, so they vary — often around 180 days, up to a year in some places. Bring the ticket and a photo ID, and check your state lottery for the exact deadline and where to claim.
Where to buy
Powerball is sold at licensed retailers in participating US states. Durebak doesn't sell tickets — it only generates numbers. See past draws for recent results.