Mississippi Powerball Jackpot Hits $1 Billion: What Players Need to Know
Mississippi Powerball players are just hours away from a massive drawing, with the jackpot now estimated at $1 billion. The prize ranks as the eighth-largest Powerball jackpot ever and the biggest U.S. lottery jackpot of 2026 so far.
🎯 Powerball Drawing Tonight
The next drawing is scheduled for 9:59 p.m. CT on Wednesday, August 12. Mississippi ticket sales close at 9 p.m. CT, so players need to get their tickets in before the deadline.
The jackpot has surged after strong recent ticket sales, with participation jumping more than 86% compared with the previous Monday drawing.
💵 How Much Does Powerball Cost?
A standard Powerball ticket costs $2 per play.
Players can add:
- Power Play: $1 extra, multiplying most non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times. Match 5 + Power Play pays $2 million.
- Double Play: Another $1 for a separate drawing using the same numbers. Mississippi participates in Double Play, which offers prizes up to $10 million.
🍀 What Are the Odds?
As of August 11:
- Odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24.9
- Odds of hitting the jackpot: 1 in 292.2 million
💰 $1 Billion Jackpot: Cash Option
The advertised $1 billion jackpot is based on an annuity paid over time. Players choosing the lump-sum option would receive an estimated $433.1 million before taxes.
The jackpot would become the eighth-largest in Powerball history if won at this level.
🏆 Biggest Powerball Jackpots
- $2.04 billion — November 7, 2022
- $1.817 billion — December 24, 2025
- $1.787 billion — September 6, 2025
- $1.765 billion — October 11, 2023
- $1.586 billion — January 13, 2016
- $1.326 billion — April 6, 2024
- $1.08 billion — July 19, 2023
- $1 billion (estimated) — August 12, 2026
- $842.4 million — January 1, 2024
- $768.4 million — March 27, 2019
🕵️ Can Mississippi Winners Stay Anonymous?
Yes. Mississippi allows lottery winners to claim prizes anonymously, regardless of the prize amount. The Mississippi Lottery will not release a winner's identity without written permission.
📍 How to Claim a Mississippi Lottery Prize
Winners should sign the back of their ticket immediately and keep it secure.
- Under $600: Claim at any Mississippi Lottery retailer.
- $600 to $99,999: Claim by mail or at Mississippi Lottery Headquarters in Flowood.
- More than $100,000: Must be claimed at Mississippi Lottery Headquarters.
Powerball prizes in Mississippi must be claimed within one year of the drawing date.
Jackpot winners can choose between a 30-payment annuity spread over 29 years or a lump-sum cash option. Both amounts are subject to applicable federal and jurisdictional taxes.