The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated $1.25 billion after Monday night’s drawing failed to produce a grand prize winner, giving lottery enthusiasts another shot at a life-changing windfall just in time for the holidays.
No tickets matched all six numbers drawn Monday night — 23, 35, 59, 63, 68 and Powerball 2 — pushing the prize even higher for the next drawing scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 10:59 p.m. ET, lottery officials announced.
Holiday Billions
“Powerball jackpot surges to $1.25 billion, bringing more holiday cheer,” the lottery proclaimed after the latest rollover. The December bonanza comes after several consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner this month, making it one of the most lucrative holiday seasons in lottery history.
Monday’s drawing offered a staggering $1.15 billion prize, already among the largest in Powerball history. But with no winner claiming the jackpot, the prize continues its upward trajectory, creating what lottery officials describe as “billion-dollar fever” during the holiday season.
Dreaming of what to do with over a billion dollars? Winners face a significant choice if they hit the jackpot: take the full advertised amount paid through an annuity over 30 years or opt for a reduced but immediate lump-sum cash payment. Most winners choose the cash option despite the substantial reduction in total value.
The Odds
What are your chances of winning? Let’s just say you shouldn’t quit your day job quite yet. The odds of matching all six numbers stand at a daunting 1 in 292.2 million — meaning you’re more likely to be struck by lightning or become a movie star than win the Powerball jackpot.
Still, that astronomical improbability doesn’t stop millions of hopeful players from purchasing tickets at $2 apiece. The game is available across 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to information published on the lottery’s official channels.
December 2025 has proven particularly noteworthy in Powerball history, with the jackpot crossing the billion-dollar threshold multiple times this month alone. Each rollover brings more attention — and ticket sales — pushing the prize ever higher.
As Wednesday’s drawing approaches, convenience stores and lottery retailers nationwide are preparing for the inevitable last-minute rush of ticket purchases. For a brief moment, $2 buys not just a lottery ticket but a chance to imagine a completely transformed life — even if the odds suggest you might have better luck finding a four-leaf clover while being struck by lightning during a solar eclipse.
