Powerball Jackpot Reaches $635 Million: The Third-Biggest of 2026 So Far
The Powerball jackpot has climbed from $20 million in August to an estimated $635 million, the third-biggest jackpot of 2026 so far. Here's how it got here.
Figures as of Oct. 21, 2026, ahead of the next Powerball drawing.
The Powerball jackpot is estimated at $635 million for Wednesday's drawing, after no ticket matched all six numbers on Monday. It is the third-biggest jackpot of 2026 so far, behind only Powerball's own $1.04 billion in August and Mega Millions' $803 million in July.
Monday's drawing
The numbers drawn on Monday, Oct. 19, were 8, 31, 32, 42 and 48, with a Powerball of 23. No ticket matched all six, but one ticket sold in Michigan matched all five white balls and won $1 million. Wednesday's drawing, the 30th since the jackpot was last won, takes place at 10:59 p.m. ET.
The climb since August
The jackpot was last won on Aug. 12, when a single ticket sold in Illinois took $1.04 billion. Powerball then reset to its $20 million starting amount, and it has grown with every drawing since:
| Date | Jackpot |
|---|---|
| Aug. 12 (reset after the Illinois win) | $20 million |
| Aug. 19 | $48 million |
| Oct. 7 | About $485 million |
| Oct. 19 | $607 million |
| Oct. 21 (estimate) | $635 million |
The curve is not a straight line. Early in a run, sales are modest and the jackpot grows by a few million at a time. As it gets larger, it draws in more entries, and more entries mean larger increases between drawings.
How 2026 ranks so far
| Rank | Jackpot | Game | Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.04 billion | Powerball | Aug. 12, Illinois |
| 2 | $803 million | Mega Millions | July 28, Florida |
| 3 | $635 million (estimate) | Powerball | Not yet won |
What to keep in mind
The jackpot is an estimate and can change before the drawing. The odds of winning it don't change as it grows: they remain about 1 in 292.2 million per line in every drawing. What rises with the jackpot is the number of lines sold, which makes a drawing without a winner somewhat less likely and a very large jackpot more likely.
In summary
Twenty-nine drawings after the last win, Powerball's jackpot has grown from $20 million to an estimated $635 million. If Wednesday's drawing produces no winner, the next jackpot will be larger still.