Everyone wants that phone call. You know the one—the "hey, I think I just became a multi-billionaire" call. Well, as of January 16, 2026, that life-altering moment hasn't quite happened for the current run.
Honestly, the hype is building because the most recent Powerball jackpot for the Wednesday, January 14 drawing went unclaimed. No one matched all six numbers. Not a single person.
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The numbers were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51 and the red Powerball was 2. The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
Because that $156 million prize wasn't snatched up, the jackpot has officially rolled over to an estimated **$179 million** for the next drawing on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. If you take the cash, we're talking about roughly $80.8 million before the tax man comes knocking.
The Big One in Arkansas: The Real Recent King
If you're looking for the last person who actually shattered the record books, we have to look back just a few weeks to late 2025.
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On December 24, 2024 (drawing into Christmas Day 2025), a single ticket sold in Arkansas won a mind-blowing $1.817 billion jackpot. This wasn't just a win; it was the second-largest jackpot in the history of the game.
Arkansas lottery officials confirmed the ticket was sold in Cabot, but the winner’s name hasn't been plastered all over the news. Why? Because Arkansas law is pretty chill about privacy—it allows winners to stay anonymous for up to three years.
Can you imagine sitting on nearly two billion dollars and just... going to the grocery store like normal? It’s wild. That winner had the choice between the massive annuity or a lump sum of $834.9 million. Most people take the cash, but with a number that big, even the 30-year payments would be enough to buy a small country every year.
Why the Most Recent Powerball Jackpot Still Has People Winning
Even though the big prize didn't fall on January 14, it’s not like the night was a total bust. Thousands of people walked away with some extra gas money, and a few actually got rich-ish.
- Texas saw two different tickets match five white balls. That’s a $1 million prize each.
- Tennessee had a player do the same but with the Power Play, turning their ticket into a $2 million win.
- Ohio reported over 12,000 winning tickets ranging from $4 to a few hundred bucks.
Basically, the "most recent Powerball jackpot" is a moving target. It grows until it hits a breaking point. Right now, it’s in that "sweet spot" where it’s not quite a billion, but $179 million is more than enough to retire your entire extended family.
The Odds and the Reality
Look, let’s be real for a second. Your odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.
To put that in perspective, you are more likely to be struck by lightning while being bitten by a shark. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but it's close. People keep playing because someone eventually wins. We saw it in Arkansas in December, and we saw a $1.79 billion win shared between players in Missouri and Texas back in September 2025.
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The game is designed to be hard. The lottery officials changed the number pool a few years back specifically to make jackpots grow larger. Bigger jackpots mean more ticket sales, which means more money for state programs. It's a cycle.
What to Do if You Actually Win
If you happen to be the one who ends the current rollover streak, do not—I repeat, do not—run to the lottery headquarters the next morning.
- Sign the back of that ticket. It's a bearer instrument. If you lose it and it's not signed, whoever finds it owns it.
- Go dark. Delete your social media. Change your phone number. You’d be surprised how many "long-lost cousins" appear when $100 million is on the table.
- Hire a team. You need a tax attorney, a certified financial planner, and probably a therapist to handle the stress of suddenly being that wealthy.
- Check your state's laws. Some states, like Delaware or Arkansas, let you stay anonymous. Others, like California, will release your name whether you like it or not.
The current jackpot is sitting at $179 million for the Saturday, January 17, 2026 drawing. You can buy tickets until about an hour before the 10:59 p.m. ET draw time.
If you're playing, just remember it's for fun. The most recent Powerball jackpot history shows that while the big wins are rare, they are definitely real. Just ask that person in Cabot, Arkansas, who’s probably having a very, very good 2026.
Actionable Steps for Players
- Double-check your old tickets: Many people forget the secondary prizes. Even if you didn't hit the $156 million on Jan 14, you might have $1 million sitting in your junk drawer.
- Set a budget: Only play what you can afford to lose. The math is never in your favor, so treat it as entertainment.
- Look at "Double Play" options: Some states allow a second drawing with your same numbers for an extra dollar. It’s a separate chance to win up to $10 million.
- Verify the next drawing: The upcoming Saturday draw is the next chance to see the jackpot finally claimed.