The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.7 billion ahead of Wednesday night’s Christmas Eve drawing — one of the largest jackpots in the game’s history. No one matched all numbers in Monday’s drawing, fueling a surge in ticket sales across the Carolinas.
Despite years of heavy participation, North Carolina and South Carolina have never claimed a historic top-tier Powerball jackpot. With recent billion-dollar wins landing in California, Missouri, Texas, and Oregon, many locals are asking whether the odds — however long at 1 in 292.2 million — might finally tilt our way.
The last jackpot was won in September, when two tickets split $1.787 billion. Now, with the fourth-largest prize ever up for grabs, optimism is growing as holiday travelers and last-minute shoppers crowd ticket lines across our region.
Winners can choose a lump-sum payout or a 30-year annuity that increases annually. Tickets cost $2 and are available in 45 states, plus D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Charlotte-area players will be watching closely when the numbers drop Wednesday at 10:59 pm, hoping the season brings more than holiday cheer.
Top Powerball Jackpots
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$2.04B — California (2022)
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$1.787B — Missouri, Texas (2025)
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$1.765B — California (2023)
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$1.7B — Current
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$1.586B — CA, FL, TN (2016)*
