So, the balls have dropped. If you're holding a ticket and your heart is currently thumping against your ribs, you aren't alone. Everyone wants that "I'm quitting my job" kind of phone call.
The powerball numbers today results for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, were officially drawn at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee. It was a cold night for much of the country, but the $156 million jackpot was enough to keep things plenty heated.
The winning numbers were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51, and the red Powerball was 2.
If you happened to check the Power Play box on your slip, the multiplier for this draw was 2x. That means a non-jackpot prize basically just doubled for a bunch of lucky people, though, honestly, most of us are just staring at the white balls wondering why we picked 25 instead of 24.
Breaking Down the Payouts and Winners
Did anyone actually hit it? Well, the initial reports suggest the jackpot is rolling over yet again. No one managed to snag the full $156 million tonight.
It's a bit of a letdown, sure. But that just means the pot for Saturday, January 17, is going to be even more ridiculous—it’s already estimated to climb to $179 million.
👉 See also: Ethics in the News: What Most People Get Wrong
Even though the big one didn't go, people still walked away with serious cash. There was a Match 5 + Power Play winner in Tennessee who is now sitting on $2 million. Imagine waking up to that. Two other tickets in Texas matched all five white balls but skipped the Power Play, so they’re taking home $1 million each. Not a bad consolation prize for being one number off.
South Carolina also saw some action. While they didn't have a millionaire tonight, over 9,000 tickets in the state won something. Most of those were the $4 or $7 variety, but hey, that's a free lunch or a couple of extra tickets for the next draw.
How the Powerball Numbers Today Results Change Your Strategy
Most people play the same numbers every week. Birthdays. Anniversaries. The ages of their kids. It’s a classic move, but statistically, it doesn't really help your odds.
The odds of matching all six numbers remain a staggering 1 in 292.2 million. To put that in perspective, you're more likely to be struck by lightning or, weirdly enough, become a billionaire through tech stocks than you are to win the Powerball.
But we play anyway. We play because that $70.5 million cash value (the lump sum for tonight's draw) represents total freedom.
✨ Don't miss: When is the Next Hurricane Coming 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Common Mistakes Players Make
One thing that really trips people up is the Power Play. For an extra dollar, it's usually worth it. If you match four white balls and the Powerball, you win $50,000. With tonight's 2x multiplier, that becomes $100,000.
Another thing? Double Play. Not every state offers it, but in places like Pennsylvania, it's a second chance for your numbers to win in a separate drawing. Tonight's Double Play numbers were 6, 20, 28, 47, 48 with a Powerball of 3.
Don't throw your ticket away just because the main numbers didn't hit.
The Reality of Taxes and Payouts
If you had won that $156 million tonight, you wouldn't actually see $156 million. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
You have two choices: the annuity or the lump sum.
🔗 Read more: What Really Happened With Trump Revoking Mayorkas Secret Service Protection
- The Annuity: You get the full $156 million paid out over 29 years. Each payment is 5% bigger than the last to help with inflation.
- The Lump Sum: You take the cash now. For the January 14 draw, that was roughly $70.5 million.
Then the IRS shows up. They take 24% off the top for federal withholding, and you’ll likely owe more when you file your return. If you live in a state with income tax, like New York or California, they’ll take their cut too. In Florida or Texas? You get to keep a lot more of it.
What to Do if You Actually Won
If you're looking at your ticket and the numbers 6, 24, 39, 43, 51, and Powerball 2 are staring back at you, stop. Don't post it on Facebook. Don't call your ex.
First, sign the back of that ticket. In many states, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument," meaning whoever holds it, owns it.
Next, find a lawyer. Not your cousin who does traffic tickets, but a real tax and estate attorney. You’re going to need a "wealth wall" to protect you from the sudden influx of "long-lost relatives" and "business opportunities" that will inevitably come crawling out of the woodwork.
The powerball numbers today results are just the start of a very long process for a winner. Most states give you 90 days to a year to claim your prize. Use that time to get your ducks in a row.
Your Next Steps
- Double-check your ticket: Use an official lottery app or visit a licensed retailer to scan your ticket. Manually checking numbers can lead to mistakes.
- Keep it safe: Put your ticket in a fireproof safe or a bank safety deposit box until you’re ready to claim.
- Plan for Saturday: Since the jackpot rolled, the new estimated prize is $179 million. If you’re playing again, remember to buy your tickets before the 9:59 p.m. ET cutoff on Saturday.
- Check the Power Play: If you won a smaller prize tonight, check if you had the multiplier to see if your winnings just doubled.