No winner Monday means the prize rolls forward and grows
Three times a week, millions of Americans participate in a shared ritual of possibility — six numbers drawn against the vast odds of chance, each ticket a small wager on fortune's favor. On the evening of April 15, 2026, the Powerball lottery produced the numbers 13, 21, 27, 43, 45, and Powerball 26, with no single player claiming the grand prize, allowing the jackpot to swell once more to $58 million. It is a ceremony as old as human hope itself: the dream of transformation, deferred again, and the quiet resolve to try once more.
- The $58 million jackpot continues its climb after Monday's drawing passed without a winner, raising the stakes for every ticket holder.
- Wednesday night's numbers — 13, 21, 27, 43, 45, Powerball 26 — were drawn with a 5x PowerPlay multiplier, amplifying secondary prize payouts across the board.
- Players across 47 jurisdictions now weigh their next move, with six more drawings scheduled through the end of April offering fresh windows of opportunity.
- The prize can be taken as a growing annuity over 30 years or as a lump-sum cash value of $26.4 million — a choice that carries its own financial and philosophical weight.
The Powerball jackpot reached $58 million on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, after no winner emerged from Monday's drawing. The evening's numbers — 13, 21, 27, 43, and 45, with a Powerball of 26 and a 5x PowerPlay multiplier — were drawn at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, as they are every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
For $2 a ticket, players in 47 jurisdictions — spanning most U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands — choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball from 1 to 26. Matching all six wins the jackpot, which can be received either as a lump-sum cash payment of $26.4 million or as an annuity: an initial payment followed by 29 annual installments, each growing by 5 percent. Both paths lead through the same gate of taxation.
Short of the jackpot, the prize ladder offers meaningful consolation — from $1 million for matching five white balls, down to $4 for matching the Powerball alone. Six more drawings are scheduled through April 29, keeping the dream alive a little longer for those who did not find their numbers on Wednesday night.
The Powerball jackpot climbed to $58 million on Wednesday, April 15th, after no one claimed the prize in Monday's drawing. The winning numbers for the day were 13, 21, 27, 43, and 45, with a Powerball of 26 and a 5x PowerPlay multiplier. The cash value of the jackpot sits at $26.4 million for anyone choosing to take a lump sum instead of the annuity option.
To play, a ticket costs $2 and can be purchased in 47 jurisdictions across the United States, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is unavailable only in Alabama, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and Alaska. Players select six numbers total: five from 1 to 69 on the white balls, and one from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Matching all six numbers wins the jackpot.
The grand prize can be claimed in two ways. An annuity option provides an immediate payment followed by 29 additional payments that increase by 5 percent each year. Alternatively, winners can accept the cash value upfront—in this case, $26.4 million. Both options are subject to taxes.
Even without matching all the numbers, players can still win money. Matching five white balls pays $1 million. Four white balls plus the Powerball yields $50,000. Four white balls alone brings $100. Three white balls with the Powerball or three white balls alone pay $100 and $7 respectively. Two white balls plus the Powerball, or just one white ball with the Powerball, each award $7 and $4. Matching only the Powerball itself returns $4.
Drawings happen three times weekly—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 p.m. Central, 7:59 p.m. Pacific). Ticket sales close one to two hours before each drawing, depending on the jurisdiction and purchase method. The next scheduled drawings fall on April 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, and 29, giving players multiple chances in the coming weeks to match the numbers and claim a piece of the growing prize pool.
Notable Quotes
The grand prize can be claimed as an annuity with 29 payments increasing 5 percent annually, or as a lump sum cash payment.— Powerball prize structure
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the jackpot keep growing if people are playing?
Because no one has matched all six numbers yet. Each drawing that passes without a winner rolls the prize forward, and it accumulates.
So the $58 million—is that what someone would actually receive?
Not quite. That's the advertised amount. If you take the annuity, you get payments over 30 years. If you want cash now, you get $26.4 million. And then taxes come out of either option.
That's a significant difference.
It is. The lump sum is less than half the headline number. That's why people need to understand what they're actually choosing.
How often do people actually win the jackpot?
Rarely enough that it keeps growing. The odds of matching all six numbers are roughly 1 in 292 million. Most winners hit smaller prizes—matching four or five numbers.
And those smaller prizes—do they matter to people?
They do. A $1 million prize for matching five numbers changes lives, even if it's not the jackpot. But most people playing are chasing the big number.
Why is it unavailable in five states?
Each state controls its own lottery regulations. Those five states have chosen not to participate in Powerball, for various legal and policy reasons.