Powerball Winning Numbers for Oct. 5; Live Results for the $80 Million Pot; Schedule
Update – October 5, 2016 – 11:00 p.m. ET: The winning numbers for Wednesday's Powerball jackpot are 8, 18, 27, 29, 60 and the Powerball is 15. The Powerplay is 2x.
The Powerball grand prize just got jacked up to $80 million for Wednesday's draw, with an estimated cash payout option of $55.2 million.
Powerball draws are held biweekly, every Wednesday and Saturday, at 11 p.m.
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Recap of Wednesday's draw
The jackpot hike came as no lucky player was able to bring home the grand prize last Saturday, Oct. 1. The winning numbers were 2, 12, 50, 61, 64, while the Powerball was 1. The Powerplay multiplier was at 2x, while the jackpot had been at $70 million with a lump-sum cash payout option of $47.5 million.
While no one was able to win the jackpot, one lucky was able to match five white balls to bring home $1 million. However, the player did not avail of the multiplier option, which would have doubled his or her earnings to $2 million. Said winning ticket is in Los Angeles, according to the Powerball website.
Meanwhile, six players were able to match four white balls plus the Powerball to win $50,000. One player availed of the Multiplier option, which multiplied his earnings to $100,000. Meanwhile, 251 players matched four white balls for $100, while 584 others matched three white balls plus the Powerball for $100. All in all, nearly 400,000 winning players brought home cash prizes from last Saturday's draw for a total cash prize value of over $4 million.
How the Powerball works
For millionaire-wannabes, playing the Powerball lottery is quite simple. With a $2 ticket, players can submit five numbers for the white balls from one to 68, and another number for the red Powerball from one to 25. They win the jackpot by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball number. Powerball tickets are at $2, while the Powerball option, which multiplies your earnings, is at an extra $1.
The odds of bringing home the prize are high: one in over 290 million, according to Powerball. But players need not fret, as there are nine ways a player can win the Powerball lottery. Like the Mega Millions, players can win the grand prize by matching all five white balls plus the Powerball. If players missed the jackpot, then they have a shot at the second millionaire prize, pegged at $1 million, by matching all five white balls.
The third highest prize is pegged at $50,000, and can be won by matching four white balls and the Powerball. The fourth prize can be won by matching four white balls, and the fifth by matching the three white balls and the red Powerball for $100. The last three prizes are rewarded with $7 and $4. All non-jackpot prizes can be multiplied by availing of the Power Play option.
