Powerball Winning Numbers Worth $460M In Jan 3 Drawing

America’s two biggest lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball, have combined jackpots of nearly $900 million in drawings this week. The jackpot in the next Powerball drawing, to be held Wednesday, Jan. 3, is an estimated $460 million. The next Mega Millions drawing, where the jackpot is an estimated $418 million, takes place Friday, Jan. 5. A surge in ticket sales could boost both jackpots.

The winning numbers in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing were 01-42-47-64 and 70. The Gold Mega Ball was 22 and the Megaplier was 4.

The cash payout for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is an estimated $261 million — or, a winner may choose to have the prize doled out over 29 years. It is one of the largest jackpots in the history of the game, and the largest prize since a $393 million drawing in August.

A lucky winner in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing could choose to take a cash payout of $291 million. The last time the game had a big jackpot was in August, when a player in Massachusetts won $758.7 million.

Odds of winning either prize are pretty slim. The odds of winning Powerball are about one in 292.2 million, compared to one in 302.6 million for Mega Millions.

Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 44 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Powerball is also played in Guam.

Mega Millions drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Five balls are drawn from a set numbered from 1 to 70, and one ball is drawn from a set numbered 1 through 25. Winners must match all numbers.

The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was Oct. 31, when two winners split a $43 million jackpot.

There are nine ways to win a Mega Millions prize. Overall odds of winning some kind of prize are 1 in 24.

Players who match five numbers from the first pool win $1 million; those matching four numbers from the first pool and the Gold Mega Ball number win $10,000; those matching four numbers from the first pool win $500; those matching three numbers from the first pool and the Gold Mega Ball win $200; those matching two numbers plus the Gold Mega Ball win $10; those matching one number and the Gold Mega Ball win $4; and those matching only the Gold Mega Ball win $2.

The Powerball jackpot drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Tickets cost $2.

The winning numbers in the Wednesday, Dec. 27, drawing were 03-09-16-56-60. The Powerball number was 3, and the Power Play number was also 3. The Powerball game is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

There are also nine ways to win a Powerball prize. The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 25.

Winning the jackpot requires matching all five numbers, plus the Powerball. Players who match five numbers win $1 million; players who match four numbers plus the Powerball win $50,000; players who match four numbers win $100; players who match three numbers plus the Powerball win $100; players who match three numbers win $7; players who match two numbers plus the Powerball win $7; players who match one number plus the Powerball win $4; and players who match only the Powerball win $4.

Here’s a fun fact: The odds of winning both jackpots is a staggering 1 in 88 quadrillion.

Also See: Mega-Millionaire Lottery Winners, Where Are They Now?

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh