The Powerball fever is sweeping across the country yet again as the jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing, scheduled for December 24, 2025, has soared to an eye-popping $781.3 million. This makes it the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history and one of the most substantial lottery prizes ever dangled before hopeful Americans, according to Daily Voice and the Illinois Lottery. But while the grand prize remains elusive, the December 22 drawing brought a cascade of smaller windfalls to lucky players in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Let’s break down the numbers, the winners, and the growing anticipation gripping lottery fans from coast to coast.
No one managed to match all six numbers in the December 22 Powerball drawing, leaving the jackpot untouched and rolling over to an even more staggering amount for the Christmas Eve draw. The winning numbers for that Monday night were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54, with the red Powerball 7. While the top prize slipped through everyone’s fingers, several ticket holders came tantalizingly close and walked away with life-changing sums of their own.
In Pennsylvania, the Powerball excitement was palpable as three high-value tickets were sold, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. A $1 million ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven on 1483 West Street Road in Warminster Township, Bucks County. That lucky slip matched all five white balls—but not the Powerball—earning its holder a cool million, less taxes, of course. The retailer, not to be left out, will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, a small but meaningful reward for their role in someone’s newfound fortune.
Two more tickets, each worth $100,000 thanks to the Power Play option, were sold at ACME Markets on 2301 Pasqualone Boulevard in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, and Junior’s Convenience Store at 303 George Street in Throop Borough, Lackawanna County. These tickets matched four white balls and the red Powerball. Without Power Play, the winnings would have been $50,000 each—a quick reminder that sometimes, opting for the extra feature really pays off. According to lottery officials, more than 239,000 other tickets sold in Pennsylvania won prizes during the December 22 drawing, with thousands benefitting from Power Play and Double Play options.
The impact of this jackpot run in Pennsylvania has been far-reaching. The Pennsylvania Lottery reports that it has generated over $124 million in sales statewide during this cycle alone. More importantly, more than $49 million from those sales will go toward programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians—a key mission of the lottery in the state. It’s a reminder that, for all the dreams of sudden wealth, the lottery also serves a broader social good. As the Pennsylvania Lottery puts it, “The current jackpot run has generated more than $124 million in sales statewide, producing more than $49 million to benefit older Pennsylvanians through programs funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery.”
Winners in Pennsylvania have up to a year from the drawing date to claim their prizes, so there’s still time for those holding tickets to check—perhaps more than once!—and see if they’re among the fortunate. The lottery continues to urge players to play responsibly, reminding everyone that help for problem gambling is available via 1-800-GAMBLER.
Meanwhile, Illinois had its own share of Powerball excitement. According to the Illinois Lottery, one ticket worth $1 million was sold at a Mobile gas station at 650 Waukegan Road in Deerfield. Like the Pennsylvania winner, this lucky player matched all five white balls but missed the Powerball. The identity of the winner hasn’t been revealed yet, but the Illinois Lottery is encouraging everyone to double-check their tickets. After all, who wouldn’t want a million-dollar surprise just before the holidays?
That wasn’t the only big win in Illinois. Another player snagged $100,000 by matching four numbers plus the Powerball with the Power Play feature, and seven more walked away $50,000 richer. It’s the kind of news that can transform a regular Monday into a day of celebration—or at least a day of dreaming about how to spend the winnings.
According to casino.org, a Speedway in Des Plaines is considered the “luckiest” spot to buy lottery tickets in Illinois, though this particular million-dollar ticket was sold elsewhere. Still, the reputation of certain retailers as hot spots for winning tickets only adds to the lore and excitement surrounding these massive drawings.
The Powerball jackpot itself is now at a level that’s hard to fathom. At $781.3 million for the December 24 drawing, it is the fourth-largest in the game’s history and among the biggest ever in the United States. For context, the all-time record Powerball jackpot was the $2.04 billion won in November 2022. While this week’s prize doesn’t quite reach those dizzying heights, it’s certainly enough to capture the nation’s attention.
Lottery officials in both states emphasize the importance of checking tickets carefully. As the Illinois Lottery put it, “Illinois Lottery is encouraging all players to check their tickets carefully.” Winners are not officially known until tickets are claimed and validated, so it’s possible that more stories of sudden fortune will emerge in the coming days. In Pennsylvania, the same message rings out: don’t toss those slips until you’re absolutely sure they’re not winners.
It’s worth noting that for every big winner, there are millions of players who walk away empty-handed—or with just enough for another ticket. The odds of hitting the Powerball jackpot are famously steep, roughly 1 in 292 million, but that doesn’t stop players from dreaming. And why should it? For many, the appeal isn’t just the money, but the thrill of possibility and the communal excitement that comes with each drawing.
State lotteries also remind players that you must be 18 or older to play and that gambling responsibly is key. The excitement is real, but so are the risks, and resources like 1-800-GAMBLER are there for anyone who needs support.
As anticipation builds for the December 24 drawing, all eyes are on the Powerball. Will someone finally crack the code and walk away with nearly $800 million? Or will the jackpot roll over yet again, growing even larger and drawing more hopefuls into its orbit? One thing’s for sure: in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and across the nation, the Powerball continues to capture the imagination—and, for a lucky few, deliver dreams come true.
For now, the only certainty is that someone, somewhere, is holding a ticket that could change their life. The rest of us? We’ll just have to wait, watch, and maybe take a chance ourselves.
