$33 million Powerball jackpot set for Dec. 29 drawing, how much would the winner really get?

The Powerball jackpot is climbing once again. Since no one won the top prize on Saturday night, the jackpot has now grown to an estimated $33 million for the next drawing.

As the number goes up, more people start talking about tickets, lucky numbers, and what life would look like after a big win.

The last Powerball draw was held on Saturday, Dec. 27. While some players won smaller prizes, the main jackpot was left untouched. That means the money rolls over to Monday’s draw.

What happened in Saturday’s drawing

The winning numbers for the Dec. 27 drawing were:

05, 20, 34, 39, and 62

Powerball number: 01

Power Play: 2X

The jackpot for that night was worth about $20 million. Since no ticket matched all five white balls and the Powerball, no one claimed the top prize.

There was also a Double Play drawing after the main one. This is an extra option some players choose.

The Double Play numbers were 13, 22, 33, 61, and 62, with a Powerball of 20. The top Double Play prize can go up to $10 million.

When is the next Powerball draw?

The next Powerball drawing will take place on Monday, Dec. 29. The draw usually happens at around 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Tickets must be bought before 9:45 p.m. on the night of the draw. Powerball draws are held three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday night.

How much money would the winner actually take home?

The headline number says $33 million, but that is not the amount most winners receive in hand. Winners usually get two choices. One option is to take the full amount paid out over many years. The other option is to take a one-time cash payment.

For this jackpot, the estimated cash option is about $15.2 million. After federal taxes, the amount goes down further. Some states also charge state taxes, depending on where the ticket was bought.

So while $33 million sounds huge, the real take-home money is much less once taxes are taken out.

How hard is it to win Powerball?

A Powerball ticket costs $2. The chances of winning the jackpot are very small. The odds are about one in 292.2 million.

Powerball is played in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Even with long odds, many people still play for fun and hope. With the jackpot now at $33 million, excitement is building again as Monday night gets closer.