The Powerball jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.25 billion for tonight’s drawing on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This massive prize follows 44 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner, setting a new record for the longest jackpot run in the game’s history.
Essential Details for Tonight’s Drawing
- Drawing Time: 10:59 p.m. ET.
- Jackpot Amount: $1.25 billion (annuity) or a $572.1 million lump-sum cash option.
- Where to Watch: Live streams are available at Powerball.com and through various local news broadcasts.
- Ticket Cost: $2 per play.
Where Tonight’s Jackpot Ranks
This drawing currently stands as the fifth-largest jackpot in Powerball history and the 10th-largest overall U.S. lottery prize ever offered. It is also the second billion-dollar Powerball jackpot of 2025, following the $1.787 billion prize won in September.
How to Play
- Select Numbers: Choose five white ball numbers (1–69) and one red Powerball (1–26).
- Quick Pick: Use the “Quick Pick” option to have a computer randomly generate your numbers.
- Add Features:
- Power Play ($1): Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 10x.
- Double Play ($1): Enters your numbers into a separate second drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million.
- Deadlines: Ticket sales typically close 1–2 hours before the drawing, depending on your state.
For tonight’s record-setting December 17, 2025 drawing, analysts have identified several “lucky” numbers that have appeared more frequently than others during the current 44-draw run and over the long term.
Current “Hot” Streak (Since September 2025)
During this specific record-breaking jackpot cycle, several numbers have emerged as clear favorites:
- White Balls: The numbers 3, 28, 29, 32, 53, and 66 have appeared most frequently since the jackpot was last won in September.
- Powerball (Red Ball): Number 23 has been a standout performer during this run.
Historical “Lucky” Numbers
If you prefer to play the numbers with the highest all-time frequency since the game’s matrix last changed in 2015, these are the top performers as of December 2025:
Most Common White Balls:
-
- 61 (Drawn 118 times)
- 32 (Drawn 113 times)
- 23 (Drawn 113 times)
- 21 (Drawn 112 times)
- Most Common Powerball (Red Ball):
- 4 and 21 remain the most frequent historically, drawn nearly 5% of the time.
- 24 and 18 are also high-frequency red balls.
The “Overdue” Strategy
Some players choose “cold” numbers, betting they are due for a win. The most overdue numbers that have not appeared in recent months include:
- White Balls: 10, 20, 22, 26, 39, 41, 47, 56, and 68.
- Powerballs: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, and 16.
Here is a “Lucky Ticket” cheat sheet for tonight’s
$1.25 billion drawing on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This breakdown combines historical data with recent trends to help you strategize your numbers.
Quick Stats for Tonight
- Jackpot: $1.25 Billion
- Cash Value: $572.1 Million
- Ranking: 6th largest in U.S. history
- Drawing Time: 10:59 p.m. ET
The “Lucky Ticket” Combinations
| Strategy | White Balls (Select 5) | Powerball (Select 1) |
|---|---|---|
| The “Hot” Play (Most frequent in 2025) | 3, 28, 29, 32, 66 | 23 |
| The All-Time Greats (Most frequent since 2015) | 21, 23, 32, 61, 69 | 4 or 21 |
| The “Due for a Win” (Coldest numbers) | 10, 22, 26, 41, 56 | 7 or 13 |
| The Balanced Mix (Statistical “Spread”) | 8, 15, 33, 47, 61 | 18 |
Key Betting Strategies
- High/Low Spread: A common winning pattern is a “2 Low, 1 Mid, 2 High” split (e.g., two numbers from 1–23, one from 24–46, and two from 47–69).
- Avoid Birthdays Only: Many players pick numbers 1–31 for birthdays, which means if those numbers win, you are more likely to share the jackpot. Choosing numbers above 31, like 61 or 69, can help you avoid splitting the prize.
- The Power Play: For an extra $1, you can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10x. The multiplier for the last drawing on December 15 was 4x.
How to Buy Tickets
- In-Person: Visit an authorized lottery retailer. Tickets close 1–2 hours before the drawing.
- Official Channels: Track results live on Powerball.com or via the Texas Lottery and other state lottery sites.