Published on: December 13, 2025, 08:42h.
Updated on: December 13, 2025, 08:42h.
- A New Jersey resident swiftly claimed a staggering $90 million Mega Millions jackpot
- Tonight’s Powerball prize is projected to reach $1 billion
- Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is offering complimentary Powerball tickets as part of a marketing campaign
The individual who secured a $90 million Mega Millions jackpot on December 2 wasted no time in choosing how to claim his transformative winnings.
According to Mega Millions, the man visited a New Jersey Lottery office just days after his numbers matched the winning draw: 17, 25, 26, 53, 60, along with gold Mega Ball 16.
Although he requested to remain anonymous, he revealed some intriguing insights related to his Mega Millions victory.
“I was awake the night of the drawing, hoping for something. Then, suddenly, a bird flew into my window. I sensed something was coming my way, but I wasn’t sure what,” the newly wealthy individual shared with lottery officials.
“I played some of my numbers with Pick-4 but didn’t win anything,” he recounted, explaining that this losing streak encouraged him to take a chance on Mega Millions, which has odds of 1 in 290.47 million.
“After I finished work, I came home and played the Mega and used all of my chosen numbers,” he said.
The New Jersey winner chose the one-time cash option of $41.9 million. Following federal and state taxes, his actual payout is around $24 million.
Powerball Surges to $1 Billion
The Powerball jackpot for tonight is estimated at a staggering $1 billion, with a cash option valued at $457.7 million. This marks it as the seventh-largest jackpot in Powerball’s history.
Currently, the Powerball has gone through 41 draws without a jackpot winner. Should the jackpot remain unclaimed tonight, it will establish a new record for the longest pause in Powerball winnings.
This streak also signifies a historical moment, as it’s the first instance of back-to-back jackpots exceeding $1 billion across any US lottery game.
Top Ten Powerball Jackpots
- $2.04 Billion – November 7, 2022 – CA
- $1.787 Billion – September 6, 2025 – MO, TX
- $1.765 Billion – October 11, 2023 – CA
- $1.586 Billion – January 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
- $1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR
- $1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
- $1 Billion est. – December 13, 2025
- $842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI
- $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
- $758.7 Million – August 23, 2017 – MA
Portnoy Promotes Jackpocket Amid Michigan Controversy
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, diverted his focus from a Michigan controversy to promote Jackpocket, a DraftKings’ courier service that enables users to purchase lottery tickets online across 15 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
During a brief interlude from his Michigan commentary, Portnoy informed his 3.7 million followers on X about how to obtain a free Powerball ticket for tonight’s $1 billion drawing.
“It’s jackpot season. We’ve collaborated with Jackpocket, the most convenient method to purchase lottery tickets through your phone,” Portnoy stated. “I’m keeping an eye on Powerball and Mega Millions; these jackpots are soaring.”