The chances of winning the Powerball jackpot are small -- 1 in 292.2 million, to be exact.
Millions of people, including first-time players, bought lottery tickets leading up to Wednesday's drawing. Even if you don't win the record-breaking $1.5 billion jackpot, there's still a chance you could win a prize.
A big winner needs to match every number and the Powerball number.
Score every number but the Powerball number to earn $1 million.
Four numbers and the Powerball number earns you $50,000.
Other small prizes are options too.
The overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24.87. Not so bad!
Winnings are bigger for who bought the Power Play option. The Match 5+0 prize with Power Play option grows to $2,000,000 paid in a cash lump sum (no annuity option is offered). All other lower prizes (below Match 5) will be multiplied by a number that Powerball draws (2X, 3X, 4X, or 5X). In October 2015, a 10X multiplier was added to the mix with a chance to be drawn for all jackopts at $150 million or less.
See more information about prize options here.
