Christmas Day Powerball drawing worth $638 million

A Powerball prize that went unclaimed again Friday has avalanched into a whopping $638 million windfall someone could win for Christmas.

It’s been a decade since anyone won a Christmas Day drawing. That prize was just over $71 million. Only three jackpots have been won on Dec. 25, according to a statement from drawing officials.

“This could be a very Merry Christmas for a Powerball player!” Powerball Product Group Chair Drew Svitko said.

There have been 31 consecutive drawings since a Powerball player won the grand prize.

Monday’s 10:59 p.m. drawing will be worth a cash prize of $321.1 million. It marks the fourth time in 2023 that a jackpot’s lump sum topped the half-billion dollar mark. Winners have the option of taking a one-time payout or receiving an annual check. Taxes apply either way. Tickets cost $2 and can be purchased in 45 states.

Each ticket offers a 1 in 292.2 million shot at correctly predicting the numbers on all five white ping pong balls and the Powerball drawn in Tallahassee, Fla. shortly before Christmas winds to an end. Tickets are typically sold until an hour or two before the drawing, according to Powerball officials.