How next Powerball drawing could bust Edwin Castro’s $2.04 billion record lottery win
Edwin Castro of Altadena, California, is the sole winner of $2.04 billion Powerball drawing in November 2022. He opted for a lump sum of $997.6 million.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
- Early estimates for Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, Powerball drawing show a $1.70 billion jackpot.
- If Sept. 6, 2025, Powerball drawing reaches $2 billion, it will only be the 2nd time in US history.
- In one week, the Powerball lottery jackpot jumped from $850 million to $1.70 billion after 4 rollover drawings.
Will Edwin Castro be dethroned as the largest lottery winner ever?
After no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the Wednesday, Sept. 3, Powerball drawing, the jackpot jumped $30 million overnight for $1.70 billion for Saturday, Sept. 6. That total, hours after the Wednesday night drawing, climbed to the No. 3 spot for biggest Powerball prizes and largest lottery jackpots of all-time (see below).
The *Nov. 7, 2022, Powerball drawing reached an estimated $1.9 billion before final ticket sales pushed it to the record-setting $2.04 billion total. Because of technical difficulties with one of the state lotteries, the Powerball drawing was delayed until the morning of Nov. 8, 2022. A winning ticket from California matched all five numbers plus the Powerball.
Months later, California Lottery officials announced Edwin Castro of Altadena, California, as the sole winner of the $2.04 billion Powerball − on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2023.
According to TCPalm reporting, the biggest Powerball lottery prize in history grew from $20 million on Aug. 6, 2022, to $2.04 billion on Nov. 8, 2022, with more than 40 rollovers.
A look at the jackpot’s growth for the current Powerball lottery streak, which began June 2, 2025, at $20 million, shows a tremendous leap from a mere week ago: The Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, Powerball jackpot was for $850 million. Here’s a snapshot of how quickly the grand prize climbed since then:
Will the Saturday, Sept. 6, Powerball drawing reach $2 billion before numbers are picked? On Thursday, Aug. 28, Powerball lottery officials announced the jackpot had reached $1 billion − two days before the next Powerball drawing on Aug. 30. It was the 13th time in history a Powerball or Mega Millions lottery jackpot became a billion-dollar prize and the first time for 2025. In 2024, Powerball and Mega Millions saw three billion-dollar lottery streaks, while 2023 had four billion-dollar lottery winners.
If ticket sales surpass $30 million before the Saturday, Sept. 6, Powerball drawing of $1.70 billion, it will be the second time in history a lottery jackpot crossed the $2 billion mark. Since the Monday, Sept. 1, Labor Day Powerball jackpot, the grand prize has increased by $30 million.
It’s possible the Powerball drawing will set a new record for largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
And a $2 Powerball ticket could make you a billionaire.
Who is Edwin Castro? Did $2.04 billion Powerball winner take lump sum?
Edwin Castro of Altadena, California, sole winner of the $2.04 billion Powerball drawing on Nov. 7, 2022, opted for the lump sum, which was just shy of $1 billion, according to the California Lottery. Castro bought the ticket that matched all five numbers plus the Powerball from Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California.
He opted for the one-time lump sum.
Declining to appear on camera, Castro claimed his prize on Feb. 14, 2023 − Valentine’s Day − and received a check from the California Lottery for $997.6 million during a press conference. In California, it is public record to know who won a Powerball, Mega Millions or California Lottery jackpot and where the winning ticket was sold. Rules vary in other states, such as Florida, where it is public record to know who won a lottery jackpot, though winners in that state can claim their grand prize through a trust or LLC.
After taxes, Castro likely walked away with $628.5 million, USA TODAY reported.
What are the Top 10 biggest Powerball jackpots in history?
Here are the Top 10 Powerball jackpots in the history of the game as of Sept. 4, 2025:
- 10. $754.6 million — Feb. 6, 2023; Washington
- 9. $758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts
- 8. $768.4 million — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin
- 7. $842.4 million — Jan. 1, 2024; Michigan
- 6. $1.08 billion — July 19, 2023; California
- 5. $1.33 billion — April 6, 2024; Oregon
- 4. $1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
- 3. $1.70 billion — Sept. 6, 2025; TBD
- 2. $1.765 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023; California
- 1. $2.04 billion — Nov. 7, 2022; California
When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more for Mega Millions and Powerball? What are the biggest lottery jackpots in US history?
As of Sept. 4, 2025, there have been 13 lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion. These are the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history.
- $2.04 billion Powerball prize, Nov. 7, 2022, Edwin Castro of Altadena, California
- $1.73 billion Powerball prize, Oct. 11, 2023, Theodorus Struyck of California (ticket purchased at Midway Market in California)
- $1.70 billion Powerball prize, Sept. 6, 2025, TBD
- $1.586 billion Powerball prize, Jan. 13, 2016, Marvin and Mae Acosta of California, Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach, Florida, and John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee
- $1.58 billion Mega Millions prize, Aug. 8, 2023, Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida
- $1.537 billion Mega Millions prize, Oct. 23, 2018, won by an anonymous player in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion Mega Millions prize, Jan. 13, 2023, LaKoma Island Investments, LLC, with the ticket purchased in Lebanon, Maine
- $1.337 billion Mega Millions prize, July 29, 2022, won by an anonymous partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, Illinois
- $1.326 billion Powerball prize, April 6, 2024, Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Chao of Oregon
- $1.269 billion Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, Rosemary Casarotti of California
- $1.128 billion Mega Millions prize, March 26, 2024, won by an anonymous winner in New Jersey with the ticket purchased at ShopRite Liquor No. 781 in Neptune Township, New Jersey
- $1.08 billion Powerball prize, July 19, 2023, Yanira Alvarez of California
- $1.050 billion Mega Millions prize, Jan. 22, 2021, won by the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, Michigan
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This content is sourced from www.tcpalm.com and is shared for informational purposes only.
