So, you probably woke up this morning wondering if your life was about to change forever. We’ve all been there, staring at those little orange-and-white slips of paper and hoping the universe finally decided to do us a solid. Honestly, the tension of a Saturday night draw is kinda unmatched. If you missed the live broadcast from Tallahassee last night, let’s get right to the point.
The winning numbers for the Saturday, January 17, 2026, Powerball drawing were 5, 8, 27, 49, 57 and the red Powerball was 14. The Power Play multiplier for the night was 4x.
Now for the big question: did someone actually hit the grand prize?
The Short Answer: No Jackpot Winner
Basically, nobody held a ticket that matched all six numbers. Because of that, the $179 million jackpot has officially rolled over. It’s a bit of a bummer if you were planning on buying a private island today, but it’s great news for the next draw. The prize is now climbing toward that $200 million mark.
The estimated jackpot for the next drawing on Monday, January 19, is now $193 million. If you’re the type who prefers the cash, that's roughly $87.9 million before the tax man takes his cut.
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But Wait, People Still Got Paid
Even though the big prize is still sitting there, "who won the powerball lottery yesterday" isn't just a story about a rollover. Thousands of people actually won something. Some of them won a lot.
According to official reports from the Multi-State Lottery Association, there were two major "Match 5" winners who came incredibly close. These lucky players matched all five white balls but missed that red Powerball.
- California: One ticket sold in the Golden State matched all five white balls. Because California has pari-mutuel payout rules, the exact prize amount can vary, but it's typically right around that $1 million mark.
- South Carolina: This is the big highlight of the night. A player in South Carolina also matched five white balls. However, they were smart enough to spend the extra dollar on the Power Play option. Because of that, their $1 million prize was doubled to a cool **$2 million**.
Aside from those two millionaires, 19 people across the country matched four white balls plus the Powerball. That’s usually a $50,000 prize. If any of those folks had the Power Play, they’re looking at $200,000 this morning. Not too shabby for a Saturday night.
A Look at the Numbers
If you’re a stats nerd, yesterday’s draw was interesting. The numbers 5 and 8 are relatively low, while the rest were spread out toward the higher end of the 69-number spectrum.
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We saw over 600,000 total winning tickets across all prize tiers. Most of those were the $4 wins—basically just getting your ticket money back plus a snack. In Maryland alone, there were over 14,000 winners, though none hit the top two tiers. New York saw two "Big Money" tickets worth $50,000 each.
It’s also worth noting the Double Play results for those who play the extra game. Those numbers were 1, 4, 6, 34, 56 with a Powerball of 19. Double Play offers a top prize of $10 million, but like the main draw, no one hit the jackpot there either.
Why the Jackpot is Growing
We are currently in a bit of a "warm" streak. The last massive win was that incredible $1.82 billion ticket sold in Cabot, Arkansas, back on Christmas Eve 2025. That was a historical moment—the second-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Since then, we’ve seen several smaller rollovers.
Lottery officials like Noé Yactayo and various state spokespeople often remind players that the odds are, well, astronomical. You’re looking at 1 in 292.2 million for the jackpot. To put that in perspective, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning while being eaten by a shark. Okay, maybe not that bad, but it's close.
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Next Steps for Players
If you have a ticket from yesterday, don't just throw it in the trash because you didn't see your numbers on the news.
1. Double-check your ticket. Use an official app or go to a physical retailer. People lose out on millions every year simply because they didn't realize they matched four numbers or the Powerball alone.
2. Sign the back. If you did win a substantial amount, sign that ticket immediately. It’s a bearer instrument; if you lose it and haven't signed it, whoever finds it can technically claim the cash.
3. Plan for Monday. Since no one won the powerball lottery yesterday, the Monday night draw is going to see a spike in ticket sales. If you're playing, remember that sales usually cut off about one to two hours before the 10:59 p.m. ET draw time, depending on which state you're in.
4. Check your state's rules. Some states, like California, require winners to be public. Others allow you to remain anonymous or claim through a trust. If you're holding a million-dollar ticket today, your first call should probably be to a financial planner, not your cousin who needs a loan.
The jackpot keeps rolling, and while $193 million isn't a billion, it’s certainly enough to retire comfortably. Keep those tickets safe.