Lottery fever swept across the United States this week as both Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots soared to eye-watering figures, delivering dreams of instant wealth to millions of hopeful players. The excitement reached a crescendo on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, when the Powerball drawing produced a life-changing jackpot winner in North Carolina, while Mega Millions continued its climb with no grand prize winner in its Friday, January 23, drawing.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Powerball numbers drawn on January 21 were 11, 26, 27, 53, and 55, with the all-important Powerball number 12 and a Power Play multiplier of 2x. The jackpot for that night had reached an estimated $209 million, with a cash value of $95.2 million. For the lucky ticket holder in North Carolina, that meant a choice between a lump-sum payout or an annuity that would yield even more over time. The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) confirmed, "The winner will have the option to receive an annuity of $209.3 million or a lump-sum payment of $95.3 million."
This North Carolina win marked a significant moment in the 2026 lottery calendar, and it came just two years after Michigan sold its largest-ever Powerball jackpot ticket—an astonishing $842.4 million—at Food Castle in Grand Blanc in January 2024. While Michigan has seen its share of big wins, the latest Powerball triumph shifted the spotlight to the Tar Heel State, where anticipation and speculation about the winner’s identity quickly became the talk of the town.
But the lottery action didn’t stop there. Just two days after the Powerball drawing, Mega Millions held its own high-stakes event on Friday, January 23, 2026. The winning numbers that night were 30, 42, 49, 53, and 66, with the Mega Ball number 4. The jackpot had grown to $266 million, with a cash value of $120.8 million. Despite the excitement, no one managed to match all six numbers for the grand prize. However, two lucky tickets—one sold in California and another in New York—matched five balls, netting $3 million and $2 million respectively, as reported by USA TODAY.
With no jackpot winner, the Mega Millions prize pot rolled over yet again, swelling to a staggering $285 million for the next drawing, scheduled for Monday, January 26, at 11 p.m. ET. The cycle of anticipation, disappointment, and renewed hope is a familiar one for lottery enthusiasts, and with every rollover, the stakes—and the dreams—grow even bigger.
For those new to the games, Powerball and Mega Millions are the two titans of American lotteries, each offering their own tantalizing odds and prize structures. Powerball tickets cost $2 per play, with an optional $1 Power Play feature that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10 times (the 10x multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot annuity is $150 million or less). The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot? A daunting 1 in 292.2 million. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m., broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee and streamed on Powerball.com. In Michigan, players can purchase tickets in-store or online up until 9:45 p.m. on draw nights.
Powerball also offers a Double Play option for an additional $1 per ticket, giving players a second chance to win prizes up to $10 million in a drawing immediately following the regular one. However, the Power Play multiplier does not apply to Double Play prizes. The complete prize guide is extensive, ranging from $4 for matching just the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white balls, and, of course, the full jackpot for matching everything.
Mega Millions, meanwhile, is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs $5, and players pick six numbers: five from 1 to 70 (white balls) and one from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball). Players can choose their own numbers or opt for a Quick Pick/Easy Pick, letting the computer select numbers at random. Mega Millions recently introduced a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times at no extra cost—a change from the previous system, where players paid an extra dollar for the "Megaplier."
Tickets for both games are widely available at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and even some airport terminals. In certain states, tickets can be purchased online via the Jackpocket app, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. The app allows players to pick their game and numbers, place orders, view tickets, and collect winnings—all from a smartphone or computer. However, players must be at least 18 years old (21+ in Arizona, 19+ in Nebraska) to participate, and the app is not affiliated with any state lottery. The thrill of the chase, though, is universal.
The draw of these games isn’t just the astronomical jackpots—it’s the stories and dreams that come with them. Who hasn’t imagined what they’d do with hundreds of millions of dollars? Whether it’s paying off debts, buying a new home, funding college tuition, or making a difference through charity, the possibilities are as endless as the odds are long. And while the chance of hitting the jackpot remains remote, the smaller prizes—ranging from a few dollars to several million—keep hope alive for millions of players across the country.
Of course, with the excitement comes a note of caution. As USA TODAY reminds readers, "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)." Responsible play is encouraged, and it’s important to remember that lottery games are, at their core, a form of entertainment—not a reliable path to riches.
Looking back, the largest Mega Millions jackpots in history have reached truly jaw-dropping sums. The top prize stands at $1.602 billion, won on August 8, 2023, in Florida. Other notable wins include $1.537 billion in South Carolina (October 2018), $1.348 billion in Maine (January 2023), and $1.337 billion in Illinois (July 2022). Michigan, too, had its moment in the Mega Millions spotlight, with a $1.05 billion win in January 2021.
As the next round of drawings approaches, anticipation is building once again. Will another lucky player defy the odds and join the exclusive club of jackpot winners? Or will the prize pools continue to grow, fueling ever-bigger dreams? For now, the nation waits, tickets in hand, hearts pounding, and imaginations running wild.
With every drawing, the possibility of a new millionaire—or billionaire—emerges, keeping the spirit of hope alive in convenience stores, living rooms, and workplaces across America. One thing’s for sure: the allure of the lottery, with its promise of instant fortune, shows no sign of fading.