New Jersey ticket claims $847 million Powerball jackpot after 35-drawing drought

Key points

• A New Jersey ticket matched all six numbers (15, 34, 41, 53, 56, and Powerball 21) to win the $847 million jackpot.
• The winner can choose an annuity of $847 million or a lump sum of $363.1 million, both before taxes.
• The win ended a 35-drawing streak without a jackpot winner, the longest since the August 2026 Illinois win.
• The jackpot had reached $835 million before the draw, the first time UK ticket sales contributed to the prize pool.
• Four other tickets won secondary prizes by matching all five white balls.
• The next jackpot will reset to $20 million for the Saturday drawing.

Background

The 2026 Powerball season has seen several large jackpots, including a $1.04 billion win in Illinois in August and a $1.817 billion win in Arkansas in December 2025. The July 2026 expansion of Powerball to the United Kingdom marked the first time non-US ticket sales contributed to the jackpot pool. The 35-drawing drought without a jackpot winner was the longest since the August 2026 Illinois win.

How outlets are covering it

Fox Business and CNN both reported the $847 million jackpot win in New Jersey, with Fox Business emphasizing the ninth-largest status in Powerball history and CNN noting the second-largest prize of 2026. The Wichita Eagle focused on a separate $150,000 unclaimed prize in Kansas from the Halloween drawing, highlighting the contrast between the jackpot win and smaller unclaimed prizes. All sources agreed on the winning numbers and the 35-drawing drought, but Fox Business and CNN emphasized the historical significance of the jackpot, while the Wichita Eagle focused on local unclaimed prizes.

Why it matters

The $847 million jackpot is the ninth-largest in Powerball history and the second-largest of 2026, reflecting the game's continued popularity and the impact of the UK expansion on jackpot sizes. The 35-drawing drought without a jackpot winner highlights the rarity of top prize wins and the growing prize pools that result from extended rolls. The winner's anonymity under New Jersey law and the choice between annuity and lump sum reflect common considerations for large lottery winners.

What to watch

The jackpot will reset to $20 million for the Saturday drawing. The winner must claim the prize within the state's deadline, though New Jersey law allows anonymity. The Kansas $150,000 prize remains unclaimed as of November 3, 2026.