Powerball Jackpot: Two Tickets in Missouri and Texas Split Record $1.787 Billion

Two tickets, two states, and a life-changing $1.787 billion

Two tickets sold in Missouri and Texas matched all six numbers in Saturday night’s drawing on September 6, 2025, capturing a record-shaking Powerball jackpot worth $1.787 billion. It’s one of the largest lottery prizes ever awarded in the United States. The jackpot will be split evenly between the two winning tickets, whether the winners choose a long-term annuity or the one-time cash option.

Here’s what that means in practice. The annuity pays out over 30 years, rising by 5% annually to help offset inflation. The cash option is a reduced lump sum paid up front; the exact figure depends on interest rates at the time of the draw, but historically it’s been roughly around half of the advertised amount. Before a dollar reaches the winners, the lottery will validate the tickets and perform routine security checks—standard procedure for prizes of any size, essential for prizes this big.

Taxes will take a bite. The lottery typically withholds 24% for federal taxes on large prizes. High earners may owe up to 37% at tax time, depending on their overall income and deductions. State taxes vary: Texas does not levy a state income tax on lottery winnings, while Missouri does tax them. Winners usually learn the specific withholding amounts when they file claim paperwork.

Privacy rules are different by state. Texas law allows winners of $1 million or more to remain anonymous if they choose. Missouri typically releases the winner’s name and hometown, though winners should check current state policy and any options available at the time of their claim. Retailers that sold the winning tickets often receive a bonus; the amount and eligibility depend on state rules and the game involved.

The record run ends here. After a jackpot is hit, Powerball resets the top prize for the next drawing, and sales drop back to normal levels. That cycle—rollovers, media buzz, surging sales, and a reset—is how these towering jackpots are built in the first place.

Millions of prizes, from millionaires to modest wins

While two tickets hit the big one, the drawing delivered wins across the board. Power Play amplified several payouts. Here’s the national picture from Saturday night’s results, as reported by lottery officials:

• Jackpot winners: 2 tickets (Missouri and Texas) will split $1.787 billion.
• $2 million Power Play winners (match five white balls): 2 tickets (Kansas and Texas).
• $1 million winners (match five white balls): 18 tickets. Reported by state: California (2), Illinois (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), Texas (2), and one each in Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, and West Virginia. Note: In California, match-five prizes are paid on a pari-mutuel basis rather than a fixed $1 million amount.
• $50,000 winners (match four plus the Powerball): 232 tickets; with Power Play, 90 tickets hit $100,000 for the same combination.
• $100 winners (match four white balls): more than 5,800 tickets; 1,559 Power Play tickets doubled that to $200.
• $7 winners (match three plus the Powerball): more than 350,000 tickets; Power Play lifted these to $14.
• $4 winners (match three): more than 5 million tickets; Power Play bumped those to $8.

Powerball’s structure explains the volume of smaller wins. A ticket costs $2, with an optional $1 Power Play add-on that multiplies non-jackpot prizes. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball from 1 to 26. Drawings are held three nights a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 24.9, but the odds of matching all six numbers are 1 in 292,201,338. That longshot is why jackpots can climb so high, so fast.

For the two big winners, the next steps are straightforward but high-stakes. First, sign the back of the ticket and secure it—think a safe deposit box or a trusted attorney’s office. Take clear photos of both sides. Then build a team. A seasoned attorney, a CPA who handles complex tax situations, and a fiduciary financial planner can help map out a plan before anyone sets foot in a claims office.

Winners typically have a limited window to claim. In many states, including Missouri and Texas, the deadline is around 180 days from the drawing date for draw games, but rules can vary by prize type and may change over time. Claiming as an individual, a trust, or another legal entity has pros and cons—especially in states with disclosure requirements—so getting legal advice early matters.

The annuity-versus-cash decision often comes down to risk tolerance, tax planning, and estate goals. The annuity spreads out risk and can help curb overspending; payments increase annually, which helps maintain purchasing power. The lump sum offers control and flexibility, but it also demands discipline and a clear investment plan. Either way, asset protection, charitable planning, and careful budgeting should be on the table from day one.

This win joins a short list of history-making jackpots. The largest U.S. lottery prize to date was $2.04 billion, won by a single Powerball ticket sold in California in November 2022. Other giants include the $1.765 billion Powerball (2023), the $1.586 billion Powerball split three ways (2016), and the $1.602 billion Mega Millions (2023). Saturday night’s $1.787 billion sits squarely in that rarefied tier.

For everyone who didn’t hit the top prize, there’s still a lesson in the numbers. When jackpots soar, more casual players jump in, and ticket sales expand the prize pool even faster—a feedback loop that can add hundreds of millions in a matter of days. The flip side is the math never changes: the odds remain daunting, and most winnings are small.

For players checking tickets today, the basics apply. Use an official scanner or terminal, not just a visual check. Don’t toss a ticket until you’ve scanned it—small wins are easy to miss, especially when the prize chart is stacked with tiers. If you did win something, even a modest amount, sign the ticket right away and keep a copy for your records.

One more note on where the money goes: in most participating states, a portion of every ticket funds public programs—often education—after prize payouts and operating costs. When jackpots balloon, those contributions generally rise with them. It’s not why most people play, but it is part of the broader picture.

The chase now resets. Powerball will return to its baseline jackpot for the next drawing. Expect a quieter week—until the numbers start rolling again and the pot grows. State lotteries in Missouri and Texas are likely to announce more details once the winning tickets are validated and the claim process begins.