How much $1.787 billion Powerball winners will actually take home
Share and Follow

The second-largest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history has been claimed, and after taxes, the monumental prize is significantly reduced from the advertised amount.

The $1.787 billion drawing on Saturday resulted in two winning tickets, one purchased in Missouri and the other in Texas, lottery officials confirmed. Each winner is eligible for a lump-sum cash prize of approximately $410.3 million before taxes.

This impressive sum is immediately diminished by taxes. The IRS automatically withholds 24% of lottery winnings, but because jackpot winners fall into the highest income bracket, the full 37% rate is applicable. After all federal taxes are deducted, each winner is left with around $258.5 million.

From there, the difference comes down to state law. Texas does not levy a state income tax, so its winner will keep that full amount.

Missouri, however, taxes lottery winnings at 4%, trimming about $16.4 million from the prize and leaving the state’s winner with roughly $242.1 million.

Even after those cuts, the haul represents a once-in-a-lifetime fortune.

To put it in perspective, $258 million could buy four brand-new Gulfstream private jets — or seven to eight used models — at current prices.

It’s also enough to purchase about 600 median-priced homes in the United States, or cover more than a season’s payroll for a Major League Baseball team.

The Missouri winner’s after-tax share of $242 million could instead fund the equivalent of 120 average American workers’ lifetime salaries, based on current wage data.

It could also cover tuition for hundreds of students through full four-year degrees, or thousands if spread more thinly across annual costs.

The $1.787 billion jackpot trails only the record-setting $2.04 billion Powerball prize awarded to a single California player in November 2022.

Both cement Powerball’s reputation for generating jaw-dropping prizes — and equally daunting tax bills.

For now, the identities of the Missouri and Texas winners remain a mystery. Whether they choose to step into the spotlight or stay anonymous, they’ve already joined an exclusive club of instant multimillionaires.

But history offers a warning: studies show that nearly one in three lottery winners eventually fall into bankruptcy or serious financial hardship within just a few years of their windfall.

While the oft-repeated claim that 70% of winners go broke is an exaggeration, researchers say sudden wealth often proves harder to manage than most expect.

Overspending, bad investments, scams and pressure from friends and family remain the most common downfalls.

For the new winners, the question may not be how to spend their fortune — but how to make sure it lasts.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
What to watch over the holidays: Movies and shows of 2025

Must-See Films and Shows for the 2025 Holiday Season

As the holiday season unfolds, it offers a perfect opportunity to indulge…
Best White House Christmas decorator revealed by Daily Mail Poll

Daily Mail Poll Unveils Top White House Christmas Decorator for 2023

A recent survey has highlighted which former US First Lady of the…
FCC blacklists foreign-made drones over security, spying concerns

FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones Amidst Security and Espionage Concerns

In a move grounded in national security concerns, the Federal Communications Commission…
New Netflix documentary shows how families deal with loss after a school shooting

Netflix Unveils Heartfelt Documentary Exploring Family Resilience After School Tragedy

In the wake of a tragic school shooting, Bryan Muehlberger reflects on…
Explosion at Pennsylvania senior home prompts mass casualty response

Mass Casualty Response Initiated Following Explosion at Pennsylvania Senior Home

An explosion leading to a partial collapse at a senior living facility…
Police were called repeatedly to Rob Reiner's home before killings

Shocking Repeated Police Calls to Rob Reiner’s Residence Before Tragic Incident

For over ten years, police had been responding to various disturbances at…
Brown University students shaken as relief, anger collide after suspected shooter's death

Brown University Community Reacts with Mixed Emotions Following Suspected Shooter’s Death

The Brown University community and residents of Providence are feeling a sense…
Photos released in latest Epstein files… including suicide attempt

Newly Unveiled Epstein Documents Reveal Shocking Photos, Including Apparent Suicide Attempt

Newly released files have surfaced, revealing unsettling images that suggest Jeffrey Epstein…