You’re standing at the kitchen counter, heart thumping, holding a crumpled slip of paper that might—just might—be worth $179 million. Or maybe it’s just $4. Honestly, the gap between those two feelings is where the real lottery drama lives. We’ve all been there, squinting at a screen and wondering if the numbers on the screen actually match the ones in our hands.
The latest drawing on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, didn't produce a jackpot winner, but that doesn't mean it was a quiet night. Far from it. While the big prize rolled over to a cool $179 million for the upcoming Saturday draw, plenty of people woke up a lot richer than they went to sleep.
The Numbers You Came For
Let’s get the facts out of the way first. If you played the January 14 drawing, the winning lottery results for Powerball were:
06 – 24 – 39 – 43 – 51 and the red Powerball was 02.
The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
If you’re the type of person who plays the Double Play add-on (that extra buck can be a lifesaver), those numbers were:
06 – 20 – 28 – 47 – 48 with a Powerball of 03.
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What Really Happened in the Last Draw
It’s easy to look at a "rollover" and think nobody won. That is a massive misconception. In that Wednesday draw alone, two tickets in Texas matched all five white balls to win $1 million each. Another lucky soul in Tennessee did the same but had the Power Play option, doubling their prize to $2 million.
Think about that. $2 million for a game where the "big" prize didn't even hit.
In Ohio, the lottery office reported over 11,000 winners across various prize tiers. Most of those were $4 or $7 wins—basically "get your money back" prizes—but six people walked away with $200. It’s not retirement money, but it’s a very good weekend.
Why You’re Probably Checking Your Ticket Wrong
Most people think it’s all or nothing. They see the first two numbers don't match and toss the ticket. Stop doing that.
Powerball has nine ways to win. You can win just by matching the red Powerball. That’s it. One number. If you get the red ball (02 in this case), you win $4. If you spent the extra dollar on Power Play and the multiplier was 2x, that $4 becomes $8. It pays for your next two tickets.
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The biggest mistake? Confusing the Power Play number with the Powerball.
The Powerball is the sixth number drawn (the red one). The Power Play is a multiplier announced after the balls are drawn. It doesn't help you win the jackpot, but it boosts every other prize tier.
The "Double Play" Trap
A lot of players see the Double Play results and get excited because they match three numbers. But you have to actually pay for Double Play on your ticket. It’s a separate drawing with its own $10 million top prize. If you didn't check that box at the gas station, those Double Play numbers mean nothing for your ticket.
What Happens if You Actually Win?
Let’s say you beat the 1 in 292.2 million odds. First: breathe. Second: don't tell anyone yet.
The "advertised" jackpot for the next draw is $179 million, but you aren't getting $179 million in your bank account tomorrow. You have a choice to make, and it's a brutal one.
- The Lump Sum: For the current jackpot, the cash value is roughly $80.8 million.
- The Annuity: You get the full $179 million, but it’s paid out over 30 years.
Uncle Sam is going to take his cut immediately. The IRS requires a mandatory 24% federal withholding on lottery winnings over $5,000. But since $80 million puts you in the highest tax bracket (37%), you’ll actually owe much more than that 24% when tax season rolls around.
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And don’t forget state taxes. If you live in a state like New York or Maryland, you're losing another chunk. If you bought your ticket in Texas, Florida, or California? You’re in luck—those states don't tax lottery winnings.
Practical Steps for the Saturday Draw
If you’re holding a ticket or planning to buy one for the next $179 million drawing, do these three things:
- Sign the back of your ticket. A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." Basically, whoever holds it, owns it. If you drop it in the parking lot and someone else finds it, it's theirs—unless your signature is on the back.
- Use the app, but verify manually. Apps like LotteryCurrent or official state lottery apps are great for a quick scan, but glitches happen. If the app says "not a winner," do a quick manual check of the numbers anyway.
- Check the expiration. Most states give you 90 to 180 days to claim a prize. In some places, you have a full year. Don't let a $1 million win sit in your glove box until it’s worthless.
The next drawing is Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. ET. You can watch it live on the Powerball website or catch the results on your local news right before the 11:00 p.m. broadcast.
The jackpot is climbing. $179 million is enough to change your life, your kids' lives, and probably your mailman's life. Just make sure you're looking at the right numbers before you start shopping for a private island.
Next Step: Check your physical ticket against the January 14 numbers (06-24-39-43-51, PB 02) one last time, specifically looking for the red Powerball match which earns you an instant $4 prize.