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On the night of December 17, hopeful participants across the nation eagerly awaited the results of the latest Powerball draw. With a staggering jackpot of $1.267 billion at stake, the anticipation was palpable.
The winning numbers for this Wednesday evening, December 17, were revealed as 25, 66, 33, 53, and 62, with the Powerball numbered 17. For those who opted for a little extra excitement, the Power Play multiplier was set at 4x, potentially amplifying any non-jackpot winnings.
As the numbers were announced, ticket holders quickly checked their entries, dreaming of the life-changing possibilities that such a monumental prize could bring. Whether or not anyone managed to match the elusive combination remains to be seen, but the thrill of the draw continues to capture the imagination of millions.
(NEXSTAR) – Grab your Powerball tickets: the winning numbers for the $1.267 billion Powerball jackpot have been drawn for Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Those numbers were: 25, 66, 33, 53, and 62. The Powerball was 17. The optional Power Play was 4x.
If anyone’s ticket matches those numbers, they will have won the sixth-largest Powerball jackpot in game history, and the 11th-largest across Powerball and Mega Millions:
- $2.04 billion: Nov. 7, 2022; California (Powerball)
- $1.787 billion: Sept. 6, 2025; Missouri, Texas (Powerball)
- $1.765 billion: Oct. 11, 2023; California (Powerball)
- $1.602 billion: Aug. 8, 2023; Florida (Mega Millions)
- $1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida, Tennessee (Powerball)
- $1.537 billion: Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina (Mega Millions)
- $1.348 billion: Jan. 13, 2023; Maine (Mega Millions)
- $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022; Illinois (Mega Millions)
- $1.326 billion: April 6, 2024; Oregon (Powerball)
- $1.269 billion: Dec. 27, 2024; California (Mega Millions)
- Est. $1.25 billion: Current (Powerball)
You have a 1 in 292.2 million chance of winning the Powerball jackpot. If you overcame those odds and now have a jackpot-winning ticket, experts say you should immediately do two things: sign the back of the ticket, to ensure only you can claim it, and keep your victory a secret for as long as possible.
You won’t be able to do that forever, depending on where you live, but it can help avoid conversations with friends, family, and people you hardly know who may be looking for a cut of the pot. Instead, experts suggest you build a team of people you can tell, like a financial advisor, a tax advisor, and a lawyer.
As long as you matched at least the red Powerball, your ticket is worth some money. Not including the grand prize, there are eight ways to win while playing Powerball.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The lottery game is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 each, with the Power Play option available in participating states for $1 more.
