Checking your ticket after a big drawing is always a bit of a rush. You’re squinting at the screen, holding that little slip of paper, and hoping the universe finally decided to do you a solid. On Wednesday night, the air felt a little different for lottery hopefuls. The powerball numbers for december 4 2024 were drawn at the usual time—10:59 p.m. ET—and while the headlines often focus on the massive jackpot, the actual results of that night tell a much more nuanced story about how people play, win, and lose.
The estimated jackpot sat at a cool $240 million. If you'd taken the cash, we’re talking roughly $113.6 million before the taxman takes his cut.
Honestly, it's easy to get lost in those nine-figure numbers. But for the thousands of people who woke up on December 5th with a few extra bucks in their pocket, the "small" wins were the real highlight. No one walked away with the grand prize that night, but that doesn't mean it was a quiet evening for the Multi-State Lottery Association.
The Winning Numbers and How They Landed
The balls dropped, the machines whirred, and the results were locked in. For the record, the winning powerball numbers for december 4 2024 were 1, 23, 25, 28, and 61. The red Powerball itself was 13.
If you're into the "Power Play" side of things—that extra dollar you spend hoping to multiply your winnings—the multiplier for this specific draw was 2x.
- White Balls: 01, 23, 25, 28, 61
- Powerball: 13
- Power Play: 2x
It’s a funny set of numbers when you look at them. You've got that lonely 1 at the start, a cluster in the 20s, and then a massive jump all the way to 61. Many people play birthdays or anniversaries, which usually caps their choices at 31. When three out of five numbers fall under that 31-day threshold, you often see a higher number of winners in the lower tiers because so many people are using that "calendar strategy."
That night, one guy in Michigan, Brian Tacket, actually hit it big by matching all five white balls. He didn't get the red Powerball, but he still walked away with a $1 million prize. Imagine checking your phone and seeing those zeros.
Breaking Down the Payouts
Since nobody hit the $240 million, the jackpot rolled over. It climbed to $260 million for the following Saturday. But let's look at the "boots on the ground" winners from the December 4th draw.
Nationwide, about 12 lucky people managed to match four white balls plus the Powerball. That’s usually a $50,000 prize. However, three of those players had the foresight to buy the Power Play, which doubled their take-home to $100,000. Not a bad Wednesday night.
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In Ohio alone, the lottery reported thousands of winning tickets. Most were small—$4 or $7—but when you add it up, it's a lot of activity. There were 12 people in Ohio who hit the $200 mark and 15 who grabbed $100. It’s not "quit your job" money, but it’s definitely "nice dinner out" money.
Why These Specific Results Matter
People often ask if certain numbers are "due." There's this myth that if a number hasn't shown up in a while, it's more likely to appear. Statistically? That's just not how it works. Every drawing is an independent event. The balls don't have a memory.
The number 13 as the Powerball is always a crowd favorite (or a crowd hater, depending on your superstition). Some people avoid it like the plague; others bet on it because they think it's "lucky" in a contrarian way. On December 4th, the 13 was the star of the show.
The Double Play Factor
For those who live in participating jurisdictions, there was also the Double Play drawing. This is a separate set of numbers drawn for the same tickets if you paid the extra buck. The Double Play numbers for that night were 14, 35, 43, 48, 54, and the Double Play Powerball was 1.
It’s basically a second chance to win up to $10 million in cash. Even if your main powerball numbers for december 4 2024 didn't hit, the Double Play might have saved your ticket from the trash can.
The Reality of the Odds
Let's be real for a second. The odds of hitting that jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. To put that in perspective, you're more likely to be struck by lightning or, frankly, to become a movie star.
But people don't play for the logic; they play for the "what if."
Expert lottery analysts, like those often cited in lottery-focused publications, point out that the most common mistake players make is not checking their tickets for secondary prizes. Millions of dollars in "small" winnings go unclaimed every year because people only look at the jackpot. If they don't see all six numbers match, they toss the ticket.
Don't be that person. Even matching just the red Powerball (13, in this case) gets you $4. If you had the Power Play, that’s $8. It pays for your next ticket and a coffee.
What to Do if You Found a Winner
If you just realized your powerball numbers for december 4 2024 actually match that old ticket in your junk drawer, don't panic. You usually have between 90 days and a year to claim your prize, depending on the state where you bought the ticket.
- Sign the back immediately. This is the most important step. A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument," meaning whoever holds it can theoretically claim it.
- Keep it safe. Put it in a fireproof safe or a bank lockbox.
- Consult a pro. If you won more than $50,000, talk to a financial advisor or a tax attorney before you walk into the lottery office.
- Check the expiration. In Texas, you have 180 days. In California, you might have a full year for the jackpot but less for secondary prizes.
The drawing on December 4th was a reminder of why this game stays so popular. It wasn't a record-breaking night, but for people like Brian Tacket in Michigan, it changed everything. For the rest of us, it was just another Wednesday night where we got to dream for a few minutes.
If you're holding a ticket from that date, go double-check it right now. Look for the 1, 23, 25, 28, 61, and that red 13. You might be surprised.
Actionable Next Steps
- Locate any tickets purchased in early December 2024 and verify them against the official 1, 23, 25, 28, 61 (13) results.
- Download your state’s lottery app to scan old tickets; it's much faster than manual checking and prevents human error.
- Verify the claim deadline for your specific state, as some jurisdictions have a strict 180-day window that may be closing soon.
- Plan your play strategy for future draws by deciding ahead of time whether the "Power Play" or "Double Play" options fit your budget, as these were key to the payouts on December 4.