Even matching only the red Powerball yields a $4 prize
Tres veces por semana, millones de personas depositan dos dólares y, con ellos, una fracción de esperanza en el azar organizado. El bote de Powerball en Florida ha escalado a 86 millones de dólares para el sorteo del lunes 5 de enero de 2026, tras quedar desierto el premio de 64 millones del sábado anterior. Es la mecánica antigua de la lotería: nadie gana, el pozo crece, y la ilusión colectiva se renueva con cada número no acertado.
- El bote acumula tensión: ningún boleto coincidió con los números 18, 21, 40, 53, 60 y el Powerball 23 del sábado, y ahora 86 millones de dólares esperan un nuevo dueño.
- La cifra en efectivo —38,8 millones de dólares como suma global— actúa como imán y dispara una nueva oleada de compradores en supermercados y gasolineras de todo el estado.
- Miles de floridanos sí cobraron premios menores el sábado, recordando que el juego tiene capas: incluso acertar solo la bola roja devuelve cuatro dólares que muchos jugadores nunca llegan a reclamar.
- El sorteo del lunes arranca a las 10:59 p.m., hora del Este, con la venta de boletos cerrada desde las 10 p.m., y las autoridades advierten que ningún funcionario legítimo pedirá dinero por adelantado para entregar un premio.
El bote de Powerball en Florida llegó al lunes 5 de enero de 2026 con 86 millones de dólares en juego, después de que el sorteo del sábado quedara desierto. La opción en efectivo —alternativa al cobro en anualidades— se estima en 38,8 millones, una cifra que suele atraer a nuevos jugadores cada vez que el premio rueda hacia adelante.
El sábado salieron los números 18, 21, 40, 53, 60, con Powerball 23 y multiplicador Power Play de 3x. Nadie se llevó el gran premio, pero miles de floridanos ganaron cantidades menores combinando distintos aciertos parciales. Incluso acertar únicamente la bola roja otorga cuatro dólares, un detalle que muchos jugadores pasan por alto.
Jugar cuesta dos dólares por boleto en cualquier establecimiento autorizado. La mecánica es sencilla: cinco números de las bolas blancas y uno de la bola roja, sin importar el orden de los primeros. Por un dólar adicional, el jugador puede activar Power Play —que multiplica los premios secundarios— o Double Play, que ofrece una segunda oportunidad de ganar hasta diez millones con los mismos números elegidos. Ninguna de las dos opciones modifica el bote principal.
La venta de boletos cierra a las 10 p.m., hora del Este, en las noches de sorteo. El juego se celebra los lunes, miércoles y sábados, y el bote crece en función de las ventas y los tipos de interés acumulados entre sorteos.
La ley de Florida considera los premios de lotería información pública, aunque los ganadores de 250.000 dólares o más pueden solicitar anonimato durante los primeros 90 días para organizar su situación financiera y de seguridad. Las autoridades recuerdan además que la Lotería de Florida jamás contacta a nadie por teléfono o redes sociales para anunciarle un premio, ni solicita dinero por adelantado para liberarlo: cualquier mensaje en ese sentido es una estafa.
The Powerball jackpot in Florida has climbed to $86 million for Monday's drawing on January 5, 2026, after no one claimed the $64 million prize that was up for grabs two days earlier. For those holding tickets, the cash option—the lump sum alternative to the annuity—sits at an estimated $38.8 million, a figure that tends to draw fresh waves of players whenever a rollover occurs.
Saturday's drawing produced numbers 18, 21, 40, 53, 60, with a Powerball of 23 and a Power Play multiplier of 3x. While the jackpot went unclaimed, thousands of Floridians still won smaller prizes by matching various combinations of the drawn numbers. Even matching only the red Powerball ball itself yields a $4 prize—a detail worth checking on every ticket, since many players overlook secondary wins entirely. The drawing machinery will spin again Monday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time from the lottery's studios in Tallahassee.
Playing in Florida costs just $2 per ticket at any authorized retailer—supermarkets and gas stations throughout the state sell them. The mechanics are straightforward: choose five numbers from the white balls and one from the red Powerball. The order of the white balls doesn't matter; only the red ball must match exactly. For an additional dollar, players can add Power Play, which multiplies all secondary prizes by a set factor, or Double Play, which gives them a second chance to win up to $10 million using the same numbers they selected. Neither option affects the jackpot itself, but both can substantially increase winnings on smaller prizes.
Ticket sales close at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on drawing nights. The lottery runs three times weekly—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday—making it a regular rhythm in the state's gaming calendar. The jackpot itself grows based on ticket sales and interest rates; when no one wins the top prize, the money rolls forward, which is why Monday's pot has swelled from Saturday's unclaimed amount.
Florida law treats lottery winnings as public record. Winners' names, cities of residence, and prize amounts are disclosed, though recent legislation allows winners of $250,000 or more to request anonymity for the first 90 days after claiming their prize—a window meant to allow time for financial planning and security arrangements before their identity becomes public.
The state warns players to remain vigilant against fraud. The Florida Lottery will never call or message someone on social media claiming they've won without having purchased a ticket. Legitimate lottery officials never ask for money upfront to release a prize. Anyone requesting bank details or advance payment in exchange for millions is running a scam. Tickets should always be purchased from official retailers, and personal information should be guarded carefully. For those playing Monday night, the drawing begins at 10:59 p.m. ET—and the next chance to check those numbers comes immediately after.
Citas Notables
The Florida Lottery will never call or message someone on social media claiming they've won without having purchased a ticket, and legitimate officials never ask for money upfront to release a prize.— Florida Lottery warning
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does the jackpot keep growing like this? What happens to the money when nobody wins?
Every time a drawing ends without a jackpot winner, that unclaimed prize money rolls into the next drawing. It's not lost—it just sits there accumulating until someone finally matches all six numbers. That's why you see these jumps from $64 million to $86 million in just two days.
So if I win, do I have to take the full $86 million, or can I choose something smaller?
You get a real choice. You can take the full amount as an annuity—30 payments over 29 years that increase by 5 percent each year—or you can take the cash option right now, which is $38.8 million. It's less money upfront, but it's yours immediately.
That's a significant difference. Why would anyone choose the annuity?
Discipline, mostly. Some people worry they'll spend a lump sum too quickly. The annuity forces a slower pace and actually pays out more total money over time because of those annual increases. But most winners take the cash.
What's this Power Play thing I keep hearing about?
It's a $1 add-on that multiplies your secondary prizes. If you match four numbers instead of five, Power Play might double or triple what you'd normally win. But it doesn't touch the jackpot—that stays the same whether you buy Power Play or not.
And if I win, does everyone find out who I am?
Your name becomes public record in Florida. But if you win $250,000 or more, you can ask to stay anonymous for 90 days while you get your affairs in order. After that, the state releases your information.
That seems like a short window for a life-changing amount of money.
It is. That's why the law exists—to give winners a brief period to hire lawyers, accountants, and security before their identity goes public. Ninety days isn't much, but it's something.