The Powerball drawing for September 16, 2024, yielded the following numbers: 8, 9, 11, 27, 31, with the Powerball being 17. The Power Play multiplier for this draw was 5x. Unfortunately, no one hit the jackpot for this drawing, meaning the grand prize rolled over to the next draw on September 18, 2024, with an estimated jackpot of $176 million and a cash value of $89.4 million【8†source】【9†source】.
However, there were some significant non-jackpot winners. One ticket holder from Texas matched all five white balls and opted for the Power Play, netting a $2 million prize. Additionally, two other players from Arkansas and Virginia also matched five numbers without the Power Play, each winning $1 million【9†source】.
For those unfamiliar with Powerball, the game involves selecting five numbers between 1 and 69 (white balls) and one Powerball number between 1 and 26 (red ball). Drawings occur three times a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The jackpot is awarded to any player who matches all five numbers plus the Powerball, while smaller prizes are available for matching fewer numbers【9†source】.
Power Play, an optional feature for an extra $1 per play, allows players to multiply their non-jackpot winnings by a factor of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10, depending on the drawing’s multiplier. In this case, the 5x Power Play resulted in significant boosts for secondary prize winners【9†source】.
As the jackpot continues to grow, the excitement for the next draw heightens, especially with the possibility of winning life-changing sums. Make sure to check your numbers after each draw to see if you are one of the Mega Millions lucky winners!