Two lucky Powerball players in Missouri and Texas defied the odds to win a combined jackpot of about $1.8 billion, the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history, according to game officials on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The winning numbers for the drawing were 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and the red Powerball was 17.

Each winner can choose between an annuitized cash payout of $893.5 million or a lump sum of $410.3 million.

The $1.787 billion prize falls just short of the record $2.04 billion jackpot won by a single ticket in California in November 2022.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Do we know who won the Powerball?

Two ticket holders, one from Missouri and another from Texas, have won the $1.78 billion jackpot, but they are currently anonymous. The prize will be split between the two winners.

One player in Kansas and one in Texas won $2 million each from Match 5+ Power Play, while winners in CA (2), CO, FL, IL (2), KS, MA, MI, NJ, NY (2), OH (2), OR, TX (2) and WV claimed $1 million Match 5 prizes.

To find the full list of previous Powerball winners, click the link to the lottery’s website.

When is the next Powerball drawing?

The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8, at 11 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed on Powerball.com or YouTube.

How to play the Powerball

To play the Powerball lottery, you have to buy a ticket for $2. You can do this at a variety of locations, including your local convenience store, gas station, or even grocery store. In some states, Powerball tickets can be bought online.

Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 69. The red Powerball ranges from 1 to 26. People can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases the winning for all non-jackpot prizes.

The “Power Play” multiplier can multiply winnings by: 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

If you are feeling unlucky or want the computer to do the work for you, the “Quick Pick” option is available, where computer-generated numbers will be printed on a Powerball ticket. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.

Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will continue to tick up.

Where to buy lottery tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

Contributing: Reuters

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball winning numbers for $1.8 billion jackpot drawing on Saturday, Sept. 6

Reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect