The Powerball drawing for May 6th, 2022 did not produce a jackpot winner. The winning numbers were 19, 20, 40, 42, 60 with a Powerball of 6. While no ticket matched all six numbers to take home the grand prize, over 1.1 million tickets won smaller prizes totalling more than $12.2 million.
Powerball is a popular multi-state lottery game in the United States that is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association. Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and continue to grow until a winning ticket is sold. Tickets cost $2 per play, and players select five white ball numbers between 1-69 and one red Powerball number between 1-26. To win the jackpot, a ticket must match all five white balls and the red Powerball number. The odds of this occurring are approximately 1 in 292 million.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The drawings are televised and live streamed online. Lottery players across the country eagerly watch the drawings to see if their numbers will make them instant millionaires. Even when the jackpot is not won, there are eight other prize tiers offering substantial payouts for matching some or all of the winning numbers. Powerball is currently offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
May 6th, 2022 Powerball Results
The Powerball drawing on May 6th, 2022 did not result in anyone winning the jackpot prize. The winning numbers were:
- White balls: 19, 20, 40, 42, 60
- Red Powerball: 6
Since no ticket matched all six numbers, the jackpot rolled over to an estimated $59 million for the next drawing on May 7th. The current jackpot amount is always advertised before each drawing to encourage more ticket sales.
While no one took home the massive grand prize, there were some smaller winners on May 6th:
- 1 ticket matched all 5 white balls for $1 Million
- 22 tickets matched 4 white balls + the Powerball for $50,000
- 468 tickets matched 4 white balls for $100
- 1,135 tickets matched 3 white balls + the Powerball for $100
- 10,797 tickets matched 3 white balls for $7
- 81,396 tickets matched 2 white balls + the Powerball for $7
- 1,020,218 tickets matched 1 white ball + the Powerball for $4
- 8,729,398 tickets matched just the Powerball for $4
In total, there were 10,844,435 winning Powerball tickets on May 6th that won over $12.2 million in combined prizes for matching some of the numbers. The specific prize payouts are fixed and determined ahead of time based on the total number of winners in each category. While no one won millions on May 6th, many players still walked away with nice prize money.
Noteworthy Powerball Jackpots in 2022
Even though the jackpot was not won on May 6th, there have been some massive Powerball jackpot winners so far in 2022:
- January 5th – $632.6 million won on a ticket sold in California
- February 14th – $185.3 million won on a ticket sold in Connecticut
- April 27th – $473.1 million won on two tickets sold in Arizona and Wisconsin
The jackpot starts over at $20 million after each winning ticket is sold. However, with more people playing when the jackpot is high, it often rapidly grows back into the hundreds of millions within a few drawings. The lottery excitement continues all year long!
Odds of Winning Powerball
The odds of winning any Powerball prize are approximately 1 in 24.9. However, the chances of winning the massive jackpot are much tinier. Here is a breakdown of the odds for each Powerball prize tier:
| Prize Tier | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Match 5 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Match 5 white balls | 1 in 11,688,053 |
| Match 4 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 |
| Match 4 white balls | 1 in 36,525 |
| Match 3 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 |
| Match 3 white balls | 1 in 580 |
| Match 2 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 701 |
| Match 1 white ball + Powerball | 1 in 92 |
| Match Powerball | 1 in 38 |
As you can see, matching the Powerball offers the best odds of winning any money (1 in 38). But to win the multi-million dollar jackpot, you need to beat odds of 1 in 292 million – no easy task!
Improving Your Odds
Keep in mind that your odds remain the same for every Powerball drawing. But there are some strategies you can use to increase your overall chances of winning:
- Buy multiple tickets – this gives you more number combinations and more chances to get lucky
- Join an office pool or lottery syndicate
- Use lottery wheeling systems to generate additional ticket combinations
- Consistently play using the same set of numbers
While the Powerball odds are fixed, you can tweak some factors to potentially improve your chances and give yourself more tickets in the game.
How to Play Powerball
Playing Powerball only takes a few simple steps:
- Visit an authorized lottery retailer or play online where available
- Pick 5 numbers between 1-69 for the white balls
- Pick 1 number between 1-26 for the red Powerball
- Choose Quick Pick for randomly generated numbers instead of picking your own
- Purchase your Powerball tickets for $2 per play
- Check your ticket after the Wednesday and Saturday night drawings to see if you have any winning matches
- Claim your prize! Winners can redeem tickets for up to a year after the drawing date
Powerball can be played in participating lottery jurisdictions either in person or via mobile device/computer when online lottery play is available. Playing is simple – just pick some numbers or go with Quick Pick, purchase your tickets, and then watch the drawings to see if you win!
Power Play Option
For an extra $1 per play, you can also add Power Play to your Powerball ticket. Except for the jackpot, this option will multiply any other prizes you win by up to 5X:
- 5X multiplier for prizes $50,000 and below
- 2X, 3X, 4X, or 5X multiplier for prizes $1 million and below
Power Play can dramatically increase your secondary prize winnings in certain tiers. It’s an inexpensive add-on that some players like to select for potentially bigger payouts.
Claiming Powerball Prizes
For prizes up to $599, you can typically redeem your winning Powerball ticket at any authorized lottery retailer. Prizes from $600 up to $100,000 can be claimed at designated lottery offices in your jurisdiction.
Jackpot and grand prizes over $100,000 must be claimed in person at lottery headquarters. You’ll need to complete a claim form and show valid photo ID. Powerball prizes expire 1 year after the draw date, so make sure to redeem during that window!
Make sure to sign the back of your original winning ticket – that’s your proof of ownership. Safeguard your ticket and treat it like cash until you are able to claim. If your prize is very large, also be prepared to potentially do publicity appearances for the lottery.
Many jackpot winners choose to take the lump sum cash option rather than annuity payments over 30 years. That provides an immediate windfall, although it is a smaller amount before taxes. Consult a financial advisor to determine the best option for claiming your lottery millions!
Remaining Anonymous
For major jackpot prizes, lotteries usually release a winner’s name and city/state to do publicity around the life-changing win. However, a growing number of states allow winners to remain anonymous for certain amounts through trusts and other legal entities.
The ability to claim lottery prizes anonymously depends on the jurisdiction. Check with your local lottery office if you have concerns about privacy before claiming an extremely large payout that will draw lots of attention.
Federal and State Taxes on Winnings
Lottery winnings get taxed like regular income, and U.S. citizens face both federal and state taxes on prizes. Here’s an overview:
- Federal tax – 37% for prizes over $500,000
- State tax – Varies by location, up to 10%+ in some high-tax states
- Possible reduction – Tax liability may be reduced by deducting gambling losses
For a Powerball jackpot cash value worth hundreds of millions, combined federal and state taxes can take 40-50% right off the top. That drastically cuts into your lump sum payout.
Setting aside enough to immediately pay the taxes on your prize is wise. You’ll likely owe taxes in the top income brackets, and you don’t want to be caught unprepared with a massive tax bill.
Tax Strategies
A tax attorney and financial planner can advise you on strategies to potentially reduce lottery tax liability. Some options may include:
- Deducting substantial gambling losses if you have them
- Gifting some of the money to family members
- Donating to charity
- Investing in qualifying opportunity zones or business ventures
With good tax planning, it may be possible to decrease total taxes owed on lottery payouts. Just be sure to have lots set aside upfront to pay the IRS and state when filing your return.
What to Do If You Win Powerball
Hitting the jackpot can completely change your life. Here are some tips if you are ever fortunate enough to win a massive Powerball prize:
- Sign the back of your ticket and store it somewhere very safe
- Talk to experts (financial planner, accountant, lawyer) before claiming your prize
- Decide whether to take lump sum or annuity payments
- Determine if you can claim anonymously
- Set aside at least half the cash upfront for taxes
- Pay off any outstanding debts
- Make a budget and invest conservatively
- Give back through charitable causes you care about
- Consult experts to help manage your new wealth
A windfall lottery prize can be life-changing. Making smart financial decisions from the start will allow you to responsibly manage your riches!
Beware of Lottery Scams
Be cautious about potential lottery scams. Common suspicious tactics include:
- Calls/emails saying you won a prize and demanding upfront fees
- Unsolicited letters claiming you have winning ticket numbers
- Companies offering professional services without being asked
- Requests to send or wire money
Never pay anyone an upfront fee regarding lottery prizes. Also beware phishing attempts trying to get your personal information. Only trust official lottery contacts and your own trusted financial advisors.
The Bottom Line
Winning Powerball can instantly make you wealthy beyond your dreams. While the jackpot rolled over on May 6th, 2022, the game continues offering life-changing prizes. Tickets are inexpensive, the game is fun to play, and someone eventually wins each time the grand prize grows large enough.
The odds of matching all six winning numbers are incredibly small. But jackpots still get hit occasionally. All it takes is one lucky ticket for an ordinary person’s life to dramatically change forever. Will it happen on the next drawing? The potential is always out there.
Powerball continues rolling on with drawings held three times a week. A new multi-millionaire could be crowned at any time. Tickets only cost $2 for a chance to win big. What would you do if you won it all? The possibilities are endless!
