MADISON, Wis. -- Just in time for the holidays, the Powerball jackpot has climbed to an astonishing $1.25 billion for the Wednesday, December 17, 2025, drawing. Though no one took home the grand prize, two winning $50,000 tickets were sold in Wisconsin for the Monday, December 15 draw. It is the sixth and seventh time a winning Powerball ticket of $50,000 (or more) was sold in the Badger State since December 6.

The winning tickets were sold at the Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly on 1566 E. Sumner St. in Hartford and at Kwik Trip on 9 Tower Dr. in Sun Prairie. Both tickets matched four of five numbers (23-35-59-63-68) plus the Powerball of (2).

“It’s spectacular to see Powerball climb to this level right at the heart of the holiday season,” said Matt Strawn, CEO of the Iowa Lottery and Chair of the Powerball Product Group. “Players should enjoy the excitement but remember to play responsibly — every $2 ticket gives you a chance to dream big while supporting good causes in your community.”

Wednesday’s drawing will be the 44th in the current jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on September 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.

Wednesday’s jackpot is the second-largest Powerball prize this year, behind the $1.787 billion jackpot won on September 6 in Missouri and Texas. This marks only the second time in Powerball history that the game has generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots.

The only other time the Powerball game generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots was in 2023, when a $1.08 billion jackpot was won on July 19, followed by a $1.765 billion jackpot won on October 11. Both jackpots were won by players in California.

Wisconsin Lottery retailers who sell winning tickets over $599 receive a two-percent Retailer Performance Winning Ticket Incentive, up to $100,000. 

Players have 180 days from the draw date to claim their winnings. Information on how to claim a prize is available at wilottery.com. Players can also see if their ticket is a winner by using the Lottery's mobile app, available at the App Store or Google Play.

Powerball drawings are Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 9:59 p.m. Tickets must be purchased before 9:00 p.m. to be included in a drawing. Powerball tickets are $2 per play, with the option to buy the Power Play feature for an additional $1. 

The odds to win the Powerball jackpot are 1:292,201,338 while the odds to win a $50,000 prize are 1:913,130.