Powerball reached $600 million in 29 drawings, its second-fastest climb since the $20 million reset began in 2020
The Powerball jackpot is an estimated $607 million for Monday, October 19, after no ticket matched all six numbers on Saturday. That makes Monday the 29th drawing since the jackpot reset to $20 million on August 15, three days after a single ticket won $1.04 billion in Illinois. Few runs have climbed that fast.
Powerball has started each new jackpotat $20 million since September 2020. In the 12 runs since then that reached $600 million, the typical one took 34 drawings and 77 days to get there. This run took 29 drawings and 65 days. Only one was quicker, the summer 2023 run that hit $600 million in 25 drawings and 56 days and ended at $1.77 billion.
| Run began | First drawing at $600M or more | Drawings | Days | Final jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2020 | January 16, 2021 | 35 | 119 | $731.1 million |
| June 9, 2021 | October 2, 2021 | 40 | 115 | $699.8 million |
| October 6, 2021 | January 5, 2022 | 40 | 91 | $632.6 million |
| August 6, 2022 | October 24, 2022 | 35 | 79 | $2.04 billion |
| November 21, 2022 | January 30, 2023 | 31 | 70 | $754.6 million |
| April 22, 2023 | July 8, 2023 | 34 | 77 | $1.08 billion |
| July 22, 2023 | September 16, 2023 | 25 | 56 | $1.77 billion |
| October 14, 2023 | December 23, 2023 | 31 | 70 | $842.4 million |
| January 3, 2024 | March 16, 2024 | 32 | 73 | $1.33 billion |
| June 2, 2025 | August 18, 2025 | 34 | 77 | $1.79 billion |
| September 8, 2025 | November 22, 2025 | 33 | 75 | $1.82 billion |
| May 4, 2026 | July 25, 2026 | 36 | 82 | $1.04 billion |
| August 15, 2026 | October 19, 2026 | 29 | 65 | Not yet won |
The jackpot has grown by about $21 million a drawing on average, and faster lately. It went from $440 million on October 3 to $586.4 million on October 17, about $29 million per drawing. Powerball sets the advertised jackpot from ticket sales and current interest rates, since it is the total of 30 annual payments. Monday's cash option is $255.7 million.
A fast start doesn't predict the ending. The 2023 run that set the pace went on to $1.77 billion, but the October 2021 run, at 40 drawings, was won at $632.6 million in the same drawing it first crossed $600 million. Saturday's drawing produced one $1 million winner, in Maryland, and the odds of the jackpot are still 1 in 292,201,338 per ticket. How the two big games compare on growth is in our look at Powerball and Mega Millions since the $5 ticket.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take Powerball to reach $600 million this time?
Twenty-nine drawings and 65 days. The jackpot reset to $20 million on August 15, 2026, after an Illinois ticket won $1.04 billion, and it is estimated at $607 million for Monday, October 19.
Is this Powerball jackpot growing faster than usual?
Yes. Of the 12 earlier runs since September 2020 that reached $600 million, the typical one needed 34 drawings and 77 days. Only the summer 2023 run, at 25 drawings and 56 days, got there faster.
What is the Powerball jackpot for October 19, 2026?
An estimated $607 million, with a cash value of $255.7 million, according to Powerball. No ticket matched all six numbers on Saturday, October 17, though one Maryland ticket matched five for $1 million.
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
