Check your pockets. Seriously. If you’ve got a slip of paper sitting on your nightstand or crumpled in a jeans pocket from yesterday, you need to look at it right now. We just had a massive Saturday night draw, and while everyone is usually gunning for that top spot, the secondary prizes were nothing to sneeze at.
So, what was the winning numbers for the lottery last night? For the Powerball drawing held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the winning numbers were 5, 8, 27, 49, 57 and the red Powerball was 14. The Power Play multiplier was 4x.
If you played the Double Play option—that's the extra buck people sometimes throw in for a second chance—those numbers were 1, 4, 6, 34, 56 with a Powerball of 19.
Honestly, the energy around this one was high. The jackpot had climbed to an estimated $179 million. That is a life-changing chunk of change, even if it doesn't touch the billion-dollar records we've seen lately. But here is the kicker: nobody actually hit the big one. Because no one matched all six numbers, the jackpot is officially rolling over.
The Breakdown: Who Actually Won?
Even though the giant check is still waiting for a home, some people are waking up a whole lot richer today. Two very lucky players matched all five white balls but missed the Powerball. That's a $1,000,000 prize right there. One of those tickets was sold in Maryland, and the other was out in Colorado.
Imagine that. You miss one tiny red ball and "only" get a million dollars.
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Most people don't realize how many ways there are to win. There were about 19 tickets that matched four white balls plus the Powerball. Normally, that’s a $50,000 prize. But since the Power Play was 4x, anyone who spent the extra dollar for that feature saw their prize jump to **$200,000**.
- Match 5 (No PB): $1 Million
- Match 4 + PB: $50,000 (or $200,000 with Power Play)
- Match 4: $100 (or $400 with Power Play)
- Match 3 + PB: $100
There were also thousands of people who won $4 or $7. It's not a private island, but it pays for the ticket and maybe a coffee.
What About the Mega Millions?
A lot of folks get the nights mixed up. If you're looking for Friday night's results (January 16, 2026), those numbers were 2, 22, 33, 42, 67 with a Mega Ball of 1. That jackpot was sitting at $230 million.
The big story from Friday wasn't a jackpot winner, but a massive $2 million win in North Carolina. A player at H&M Grocery in Sophia matched all five white balls. Because they had the Megaplier, their $1 million prize doubled. Texas also saw a $2 million winner in that same draw.
It's kinda wild how the South has been on a hot streak lately with these secondary prizes.
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Why the Jackpot Is Climbing
Since no one grabbed the $179 million last night, the Powerball jackpot for Monday, January 19, 2026, has jumped to an estimated **$193 million**. The cash value is sitting right around $87.9 million.
People always ask if it’s "better" to take the annuity or the lump sum. Most people take the cash. It’s human nature to want the money now. But experts usually point out that the annuity—the 30 payments over 29 years—actually adds up to a lot more because of the interest the lottery earns on the money while they hold it.
If you won last night, don't go running to the lottery office the second they open.
Experts like those at the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) always suggest signing the back of the ticket immediately. That ticket is a "bearer instrument." Basically, whoever holds it, owns it. If you drop it in the parking lot and someone else finds it, you’re in for a legal nightmare.
Checking Other Results
If you weren't playing the big national games, there were plenty of state-level drawings last night too.
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Lotto America (Saturday, Jan 17): 7, 28, 29, 35, 39 with a Star Ball of 8. The jackpot there is roughly $12.9 million.
Cash4Life: 17, 37, 48, 55, 57 with a Cash Ball of 3. This one is cool because the top prize is $1,000 a day for life. It’s a different kind of dream than the Powerball. It’s more about never having to worry about a bill again rather than buying a sports team.
How to Claim Your Prize
If you actually matched some numbers, the process depends on how much you won. Small prizes (usually under $600) can be claimed at any authorized retailer. You just hand them the ticket, and they give you the cash.
For the bigger stuff, you’ve gotta go to a district office or mail it in. And if you’re the $1 million winner from Maryland or Colorado, you definitely want to talk to a financial advisor first. The tax man is going to take a significant bite—roughly 24% for federal taxes right off the top, plus whatever your state wants.
Next Steps for Players
The most important thing to do right now is double-check your numbers on the official state lottery website or app. Mistyped numbers on third-party sites happen all the time.
If you didn't win, the next Powerball drawing is Monday night. You've got until about 10:00 p.m. ET on Monday to get your tickets, though the cutoff varies slightly by state.
- Sign your ticket on the back immediately to prove ownership.
- Store it in a safe place like a fireproof box or a bank lockbox if it's a major winner.
- Consult a lawyer and a tax professional before claiming prizes over $100,000.
- Check the expiration date; most states give you 180 days to a year, but don't wait.
The odds of hitting that $193 million on Monday are still 1 in 292.2 million. It’s a long shot, but as they say, you can't win if you don't play. Just keep it fun and don't spend the rent money.