Powerball numbers for Wednesday, May 31. Jackpot nears $240 million

Jennifer Sangalang, Florida Today
Updated ·6 min read

Will a Powerball lottery ticket make you a millionaire overnight?

Thanks to another rollover, the Wednesday, May 31, Powerball jackpot jumped $15 million to the current prize of $239 million. No one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball for the Monday, May 29, Memorial Day drawing, which had a jackpot of $226 million.

Wednesday numbers: 2-4-54-61-62 and the Powerball was 14. Power Play was 3X.

In case you're wondering, the Monday, May 29, numbers: 21-33-35-62-64 and Powerball was 24. Power Play was 2X.

Tickets start at $2 apiece.

Are you the winner? Florida Lottery tickets from Publix and 7-Eleven, worth $89,000 and $94,000, to expire in June

They won big, really big! Here are Florida's Top 10 biggest lottery winners, so far

Mega Millions numbers: Winning Mega Millions numbers for Friday, May 19. Lottery jackpot climbs to $132 million

Here's a snapshot of recent drawings and how much the jackpot has climbed (in so short a time):

  • Monday, May 29: $226 million

  • Saturday, May 27: $211 million

  • Wednesday, May 24: $190 million

  • Monday, May 22: $179 million

  • Saturday, May 20: $162 million

  • Wednesday, May 17: $146 million

  • Monday, May 15: $135 million

  • Saturday, May 13: $125 million

  • Wednesday, May 10: $109 million

  • Monday, May 8: $97 million

  • Saturday, May 6: $87 million

  • Wednesday, May 3: $71 million

  • Monday, May 1: $60 million

  • Saturday, April 29: $51 million

  • Wednesday, April 26: $37 million

  • Monday, April 24: $28 million

Below are some frequently asked questions about Powerball, Mega Millions and lottery odds.

What we know about winners: Lotto jackpots have surpassed $1 billion six times

What were the numbers: This combination of 6 numbers won $185.3 million on Valentine's Day 2022

In case you want to play: Playing Mega Millions drawing in Florida? Here's what to know

How much was the Powerball lottery jackpot for Memorial Day, May 29?

an estimated $226 million with a cash option of $114.9 million

How much was the Powerball lottery jackpot for Wednesday, May 31?

an estimated $239 million with a cash option of $121.5 million

What are the odds of winning Powerball?

Powerball drawings are held at 11 p.m. EST Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. According to Powerball.com, players have a 1 in 292.2 million chance to match all six numbers. Prizes range from $2 to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.

Are the odds of winning Powerball the same if the jackpot is $1 billion?

Players have a 1 in 24.9 chance of winning a prize, powerball.com states.

Top 10 lottery jackpots: Powerball, Mega Millions' biggest prizes, Who won and where winning tickets were bought

How long has Powerball rolled over?

This Powerball jackpot has rolled over since April 22. Before that, one ticket purchased in Ohio matched the six numbers to win the Wednesday, April 19, lottery jackpot of $252.6 million, with a cash option of $134.6 million. While $252.6 million is a lot of money, the grand prize did not make the Top 10 lottery jackpots for Powerball or Mega Millions (see below).

What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?

According to the Mega Millions website, you have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance to match all five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball. Prizes range from $2 (for matching the Mega Ball) to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.

Can Florida lottery winners remain anonymous?

According to Florida Lottery's website, winners cannot remain anonymous: "Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner's name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information."

However, the site states, since May 25, 2022, the "names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner."

Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.

What is the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history?

The largest lottery prize ever climbed to $2.04 billion in November. The jackpot was an estimated $1.9 billion days before the drawing, but lottery ticket sales helped it grow to more than $2 billion after updated calculations. A single ticket purchased in California won the grand prize, and the winner was revealed on Valentine's Day − Feb. 14, 2023.

When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more?

As of May 31, 2023, there have been six lottery jackpots that have surpassed $1 billion. Half of the prizes were won (but not necessarily claimed) in January.

  • 6. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: A single ticket won in Michigan.

  • 5. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: A single ticket won in Illinois.

  • 5. $1.35 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: A single ticket was purchased in Maine.

  • 3. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: A single ticket won in South Carolina.

  • 2. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three tickets won from California, Florida, Tennessee.

  • 1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: A single ticket won in California.

What are the Top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever?

According to its website, here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots as of May 31, 2023:

  • 10. $522 million — June 7, 2019; California

  • 9. $533 million — March 30, 2018; New Jersey

  • 8. $536 million — July 8, 2016; Indiana

  • 7. $543 million — July 24, 2018; California

  • 6. $648 million — Dec. 17, 2013; California and Georgia

  • 5. $656 million — March 30, 2012; Illinois, Kansas and Maryland

  • 4. $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan

  • 3. $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois

  • 2. $1.35 billion — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine

  • 1. $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina

What are the Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots ever?

Here are the Top 10 Powerball jackpots as of May 31, 2023:

  • 10. $590.5 million — May 18, 2013; Florida

  • 9. $632.6 million — Jan. 5, 2022; California and Wisconsin

  • 8. $687.8 million — Oct. 27, 2018; Iowa and New York

  • 7. $699.8 million — Oct. 4, 2021; California

  • 6. $731.1 million — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland

  • 5. $754.6 million — Feb. 6, 2023; Washington

  • 4. $758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts

  • 3. $768.4 million — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin

  • 2. $1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee

  • 1. $2.04 billion — Nov. 7, 2022; California

What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots ever?

The following Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots made the Top 10 biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, as of May 31, 2023.

  • 10. $731.1 million Powerball drawing — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland

  • 9. $754.6 million Powerball drawing — Feb. 6, 2023; Washington

  • 8. $758.7 million Powerball drawing — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts

  • 7. $768.4 million Powerball drawing — March 27, 2019; Wisconsin

  • 6. $1.05 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan

  • 5. $1.337 billion Mega Millions drawing — July 29, 2022; Illinois

  • 4. $1.35 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine

  • 3. $1.537 billion Mega Millions drawing — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina

  • 2. $1.586 billion Powerball drawing — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee

  • 1. $2.04 billion Powerball drawing — Nov. 7, 2022; California

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday, May 31, 2023