History of Powerball in Timeline

Powerball is a lottery game available in 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Overseen by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), it features drawings three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 PM Eastern Time, from the Florida Lottery headquarters. Powerball is known for its large jackpots, attracting a wide audience hoping to win significant prizes.

1997: Cash option introduced

In 1997, the cash option was introduced, requiring all Powerball players to choose between cash or annuity when playing.

1999: Cash/annuity choice regulation phased out

By 1999, the regulation requiring all Powerball players to choose between cash or annuity when playing was phased out.

1999: Halogen machine introduced

In 1999, Powerball switched from using the Criterion machine to the Halogen machine, which is manufactured by Smartplay International. The Halogen model is still in use for drawings.

2001: Power Play Introduced

In 2001, Powerball introduced the Power Play option, which allows players to multiply their winnings for non-jackpot prizes.

2001: Power Play Drawn with Special Wheel

In 2001, when Power Play began, it was drawn using a special wheel to determine the multiplier.

December 25, 2002: $314.9 million record win in West Virginia

On December 25, 2002, a construction firm president in Putnam County, West Virginia, won $314.9 million, a new record for a single ticket in an American lottery. The winner chose the cash option of $170 million.

March 30, 2005: 110 second-prize winners

On March 30, 2005, the Powerball drawing produced 110 second-prize winners, with a total payout of $19.4 million. 89 winners received $100,000 each, while 21 Power Play selections received $500,000 each.

October 19, 2005: $340 million won in Oregon

On October 19, 2005, a family from Jacksonville, Oregon, won $340 million and chose the cash payout of $164.4 million.

February 18, 2006: $365 million won in Nebraska

On February 18, 2006, a $365 million jackpot was won by a ticket in Nebraska, shared by eight meatpacking plant workers who chose the cash option of approximately $177.3 million.

2006: Powerball slot machines released

In 2006, WMS Gaming released a range of slot machines under the Powerball brand name.

2006: MUSL replaced 5x with 10x on Power Play wheel

In 2006, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) replaced one of the 5x spaces on the Power Play wheel with a 10x space.

August 25, 2007: $314 million won in Indiana by Ohio resident

On August 25, 2007, a retired auto worker from Ohio won a $314 million jackpot with a ticket bought in Richmond, Indiana.

2007: MUSL replaced 5x with 10x on Power Play wheel

In 2007, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) replaced one of the 5x spaces on the Power Play wheel with a 10x space.

2007: Oregon Lottery releases Windows Sidebar gadget

In 2007, the Oregon Lottery released a Windows Sidebar gadget that displays the winning numbers for Powerball in real-time, and provides large jackpot announcements.

2008: 10x space returned to Power Play and hit twice

In 2008, the 10x multiplier promotion returned to Power Play, and the ball landed on the 10x space twice during drawings.

2009: 10x multiplier absent

In 2009, the 10x multiplier was absent from the Power Play promotion.

May 2010: 10x multiplier returned to Power Play

In May 2010, the 10x multiplier returned to the Power Play promotion after the Power Play drawing was changed to a random number generator.

June 12, 2010: 10x multiplier drawn

On June 12, 2010, the 10x multiplier was drawn in the Power Play, after the promotion was extended. The 10x applied to all non-jackpot prizes.

2010: Powerball scratchcard introduced in New York

In 2010, the New York Lottery introduced a Powerball scratchcard with a top prize of $1 million (annuity), but no cash option.

November 2011: $254.2 million shared by three in Connecticut

In November 2011, three financial executives from Greenwich, Connecticut, shared a $254.2 million jackpot, the largest prize on a Connecticut-bought ticket. They chose the cash option, splitting nearly $104 million after withholdings.

2012: Powerball changes result in fixed Power Play prizes

The 2012 Powerball changes resulted in all eight lower-tier levels having "fixed" Power Play prizes.

May 18, 2013: $590.5 million won in Florida

On May 18, 2013, a Powerball ticket sold in Zephyrhills, Florida, won approximately $590.5 million, which was the world's largest one-ticket jackpot at the time. The winner purchased the "quick pick" ticket at a Publix supermarket and chose the cash option of approximately $370.8 million.

January 19, 2014: PowerPlay Modified

On January 19, 2014, the PowerPlay feature was modified with a specific distribution of 30 balls.

October 3, 2015: Former prizes/odds

October 3, 2015, is the date for the former prizes/odds.

October 7, 2015: Payouts as of October 7, 2015

October 7, 2015, marks the date for payouts.

January 13, 2016: $1.586 billion jackpot split among three tickets

On January 13, 2016, the world's largest lottery jackpot at the time, approximately $1.586 billion, was split among three Powerball tickets in Chino Hills, California, Melbourne Beach, Florida, and Munford, Tennessee, each worth $528.8 million.

August 23, 2017: $750 million won in Massachusetts

On August 23, 2017, a Powerball ticket sold in Chicopee, Massachusetts, won more than $750 million. The lucky winner was a mother of two from Massachusetts.

March 27, 2019: $768.4 million won in Wisconsin

On March 27, 2019, a single ticket purchased in Wisconsin won a $768.4 million Powerball jackpot, the third largest in U.S. lottery history. The winner was a 24-year-old Wisconsin man.

2019: Possible switch to random number generator

In 2019, the Florida Lottery considered switching to a random number generator for its in-state drawings, but it's unknown if Powerball was affected by this consideration.

November 8, 2022: $2.04 Billion Won in California

On November 8, 2022, a single ticket purchased in Altadena, California, won a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, the largest in U.S. lottery history.

February 14, 2023: Winner Claimed Prize

On February 14, 2023, Edwin Castro claimed the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot as a lump sum payment of $997.6 million. He purchased his ticket at Joe's Service Center in Altadena.

July 19, 2023: $1.08 Billion Won in California

On July 19, 2023, a single ticket purchased in Los Angeles, California, won a $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot.

October 11, 2023: $1.76 billion won in California

On October 11, 2023, a single ticket purchased in Frazier Park, California, won a $1.76 billion Powerball jackpot, the second-largest in U.S lottery history.