Check your pockets and scan your apps, but don't quit your day job just yet. If you're asking was there a winner for powerball last night, the short answer is no—at least not for the big one. The Wednesday night drawing on January 14, 2026, left the $156 million jackpot completely untouched.
Nobody matched all six numbers. Zero. Zilch. It’s kinda the same old story we see when the pot is starting to simmer but hasn’t hit that "national news" boiling point yet.
The winning numbers were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51, and the red Powerball was 2. The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
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The Million-Dollar Consolidation Prize
Even though the grand prize survived another round, some people are waking up a lot richer than they were yesterday. Texas seems to be the lucky charm lately. Two tickets sold in the Lone Star State matched all five white balls but missed the Powerball, netting those players a cool $1 million each.
Tennessee also got in on the action. A lucky player there hit the same Match 5 combination but had the foresight to add the Power Play. Basically, that $1 ticket upgrade turned a million-dollar prize into a **$2 million windfall**.
Honestly, it’s those mid-tier wins that keep the game interesting. While the odds of hitting the jackpot are a staggering 1 in 292.2 million, the "Match 5" odds are a slightly more digestible 1 in 11.6 million. Still a long shot, sure, but three people just proved it's doable.
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A Breakdown of the Smaller Wins
In Ohio alone, the lottery reported thousands of smaller winners. We're talking about the folks who won $4 or $7—just enough to buy a sandwich or maybe a few more tickets for Saturday.
- $200 prize: 6 winners in Ohio.
- $100 prize: 19 winners.
- The "Beer Money" wins: Over 10,000 people in the state won between $4 and $14.
It’s easy to forget that Powerball isn’t just a "jackpot or nothing" game. There are actually nine different ways to win. You can win $4 just by matching the red Powerball and nothing else.
Was There a Winner for Powerball Last Night?
When people search was there a winner for powerball last night, they’re usually looking for that one person who can finally tell their boss what they really think. Since that didn't happen, the jackpot is doing what it does best: rolling over.
The estimated jackpot for the next drawing on Saturday, January 17, has jumped to $179 million. If you’re the type who prefers the lump sum, the cash value sits at approximately $80.8 million.
Why does the jackpot grow so specifically? It’s all about ticket sales and interest rates. When the jackpot is lower, like it is now, it tends to grow by $10 million to $20 million per jump. Once it crosses the $500 million mark, the growth accelerates because "lottery fever" kicks in and everyone starts buying tickets at the gas station.
What You Need to Know for the Next Draw
If you’re planning on playing for the $179 million, remember that sales cut-off times vary. Most states stop selling tickets about an hour or two before the 10:59 p.m. ET drawing.
Don't forget the tax man, either. That $179 million is the pre-tax amount. If you win, the federal government takes a mandatory 24% withholding right off the top, and most states will want their cut too—unless you live somewhere like Florida or Texas with no state income tax on lottery winnings.
The odds of winning the jackpot remain the same whether the pot is $20 million or $2 billion. It’s always 1 in 292,201,338. To put that in perspective, you’re significantly more likely to be struck by lightning or to have a vending machine fall on you. But hey, someone has to win eventually.
Actionable Steps for Players
- Check your ticket manually. Don't just rely on a quick glance. Use an official lottery app or a self-scanner at a retailer.
- Sign the back of your ticket. In most states, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." If you lose it and haven't signed it, whoever finds it can claim the prize.
- Decide on the Power Play. It costs an extra $1, but it doubled the Tennessee winner’s prize last night. If you’re already spending $2, that extra buck changes the math on the smaller prizes significantly.
- Set a budget. It’s easy to get swept up, but remember this is entertainment, not an investment strategy.
The next drawing is Saturday night. We'll see if the jackpot survives another round or if someone finally hits those six magic numbers.