Just in time for the holidays, the Powerball jackpot is now at a staggering $1.5 billion, the 5th largest in the lottery’s history.
If a ticket matches all five numbers plus the Powerball on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 11 p.m. ET drawing, the winner can choose a one-time cash payment of $686.5 million before taxes.
The Powerball jackpot has rolled over 45 consecutive times since Sept. 6 when two tickets in Missouri and Texas won the second-largest jackpot in the game’s history: $1.787 billion.
A person holds tickets for the $1.25 billion jackpot in the Powerball lottery drawing in New York City on Dec. 17, 2025.
Top 10 largest Powerball jackpot winners
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$2.04 billion: Nov. 7, 2022 – California
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$1.787 billion: Sept. 6, 2025 – Texas and Missouri
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$1.765 billion: Oct. 11, 2023 – California
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$1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016 – California, Florida, Tennessee
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$1.5 billion: Current jackpot
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$1.326 billion: April 6, 2024 – Oregon
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$1.08 billion: July 19, 2023 – California
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$842.4 million: Jan. 1, 2024 – Michigan
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$768.4 million: March 27, 2019 – Wisconsin
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$758.7 million: Aug. 23, 2017 – Massachusetts
Powerball winning numbers for Dec. 20, 2025
The winning numbers for Saturday’s drawing: 4-5-28-52-69 and the Powerball is 20.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
How to play Powerball
To play Powerball, you have to buy a ticket for $2. You can do this at a variety of locations, including your local convenience store, gas station, or even grocery store. In some states, Powerball tickets can be bought online.
Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 69. The red Powerball ranges from 1 to 26. People can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases the winning for all non-jackpot prizes.
The “Power Play” multiplier can multiply winnings by: 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.
If you are feeling unlucky or want the computer to do the work for you, the “Quick Pick” option is available, where computer-generated numbers will be printed on a Powerball ticket. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.
Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will continue to tick up.
Where to 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 and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, 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.
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); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
This story has been updated with new information.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball winning numbers for Dec. 20 lottery jackpot worth $1.5B
