The Brief

Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has jumped even higher. It's now a whopping $1.8 billion, up from Thursday's $1.7 billion.

Lotto managers boosted the jackpot Friday morning without explanation, though similar increases have historically been the result of strong ticket sales ahead of a record jackpot. It's possible that more jumps could follow before the drawing.

Big picture view:

The increase means Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is the second-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, behind only the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won by a California player on Nov. 7, 2022.

Saturday’s drawing will be the 42nd since the Powerball jackpot was last won on May 31, 2025, in California, setting the record for the most consecutive drawings without a big winner. Previously, the record st

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