South Carolina Education Lottery Powerball is up to a $1.3 billion drawing Wednesday, September 3 night.

The winner of the latest Powerball will secure the second-largest lottery jackpot in the history of the United States.

As of Saturday, Sept. 6, the Powerball jackpot is up to a massive $1.8 billion, hours before the next drawing starts at 10:59 p.m. ET.

Of the top 10 lottery jackpots in U.S. history, five were won on Powerball tickets while the other five were for Mega Millions drawings. Eight of the top ten drawings happened this decade. The two others took place in 2016 and 2018.

While the chances of winning are extraordinarily low — about 1 in 292 million, according to Powerball — if history is any indication, some states may have more of a propensity to churn out winners than others.

Where were the biggest lottery jackpots won?

The biggest lottery jackpot ever won was a massive $2.04 billion prize in a drawing on Nov. 7, 2022.

The winner, Edwin Castro of California, purchased his ticket from Joe's Service Center in Altadena, California, near Los Angeles. With his lump sum of $997.6 million in winnings before taxes, Castro went on to purchase a $25.5 million home in Hollywood Hills.

In addition to Castro, three other of the top ten winners were sold in California.

Here's a look at the top ten biggest lottery jackpots and where they were won in the U.S.:

  1. $2.04 billion - Powerball - Nov. 7, 2022
    • Ticket sold in Altadena, California
  2. $1.80 billion - Powerball
    • Ticket sold in TBD
  3. $1.765 billion - Powerball - Oct. 11, 2023
    • Ticket sold in Frazier Park, California
  4. $1.602 billion - Mega Millions - Aug. 8, 2023
    • Ticket sold in Neptune Beach, Florida
  5. $1.6 billion - Powerball - Jan. 13, 2016
    • Tickets sold in Chino Hills, California; Munford, Tennessee; and Melbourne Beach, Florida
  6. $1.537 billion - Mega Millions - Oct. 23, 2018
    • Ticket sold in Simpsonville, South Carolina
  7. $1.350 billion - Mega Millions - Jan. 13, 2023
    • Ticket sold in Lebanon, Maine
  8. $1.337 billion - Mega Millions - Jul. 29, 2022
    • Ticket sold in Des Plaines, Illinois
  9. $1.326 billion - Powerball - Apr. 7, 2024
    • Ticket sold in Portland, Oregon
  10. $1.269 billion - Mega Millions - Dec. 27, 2024
    • Ticket sold in Cottonwood, California

How to buy a Powerball ticket

Tickets are sold at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and some other locations, for around $2. In addition to 45 states, tickets are also sold in Puerto Rico, Washington, DC and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some states sell Powerball tickets online.

To buy a ticket, players must choose six numbers across five white balls and one red Powerball. The white balls can range from 1 to 69, and the red ball from 1 to 26. All five white balls, in any order, and the red Powerball must match the winning numbers.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select your lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket, and collect your winnings — all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where were the biggest lottery jackpots won? A look at past Powerball, Mega Millions wins

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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