Powerball gets closer to awarding AU$9bn in jackpot prizes near 30th anniversary

Just in time for its 30th anniversary in Australia, Powerball is getting closer to awarding a mind-blowing AU$9bn ($6.4bn) in division one winnings.

The first Powerball drawing in Australia was held on Thursday, May 23, 1996. Ahead of the 30th anniversary of this draw, the division one prizes awarded by players across Australia have so far reached the staggering AU$8,975,858,948.18 ($6.4bn). Had a player won the Powerball jackpot on Thursday, they would’ve become not only the 588th division one winner in the game’s history, but also the winner that would push the winning tally into breaking the whopping AU$9bn sum. So far, in 2026, there have been eight Powerball division one winners. Those winners have collectively won more than AU$205m ($146.2m) in division one prizes. Notably, the biggest number of top prize winners came from New South Wales, where four Powerball jackpot prizes have been won, followed by Victoria, where three players emerged as winners and Western Australia, where a single division one prize was won so far this year. The biggest Powerball division one prize for 2026 was AU$80m ($57.1m), but if the current jackpot continues to grow, that sum may soon be surpassed.

From offering a $1 million jackpot in 1996 to today’s era of blockbuster draws, Powerball has kept Australia on the edge of its seat for 30 years with sky-high dreams, blockbuster jackpots and life-changing wins, he revealed. Moreover, Hart highlighted the exceptional moments Powerball jackpots bring to lottery players across the country. The Lott’s spokesperson pointed to the largest jackpot in the history of Powerball in Australia, a AU$200m ($142.6m) prize won by two players from the game’s drawing on February 1, 2024. Powerball also created Australia’s biggest individual lottery winner – a South Australian man scored AU$150m in May 2024, Hart added. The spokesperson outlined that Powerball ignites the hopes and dreams of millions of lottery players across Australia. We can’t wait to see what the next 30 years of Powerball draws hold, he said in conclusion.