Fri Sep 05 11:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Louisiana Family Nabs $150,000 Powerball Prize, Just One Number Shy of Billion-Dollar Jackpot

**DERIDDER, LA -** A Louisiana family is celebrating a significant consolation prize after coming within a hair’s breadth of winning Monday night’s colossal $1.1 billion Powerball jackpot. John Stokes purchased the lucky ticket at Billie’s Wag-A-Bag in Deridder, and discovered later that night they had matched four out of five white ball numbers plus the Powerball.

Thanks to the “Power Play” option, their winnings were tripled, resulting in a $150,000 windfall. “We were shocked and feel so blessed,” Stokes said when claiming the prize with his family.

Unfortunately for the Stokes family, and lottery players nationwide, no one managed to secure the jackpot on either Monday or Wednesday night. This means the grand prize has ballooned to an estimated $1.7 billion for Saturday’s drawing, edging closer to the record $2.04 billion prize awarded in 2022.

While the top prize remained elusive, Wednesday’s drawing did produce some winners. Four ticket holders with Match 5 + Power Play won $2 million, and eleven lucky individuals snagged $1 million with Match 5.

The Powerball jackpot has been unclaimed since May 31st, allowing the prize to reach truly astronomical levels. Saturday’s winner will face a choice: a single lump-sum payment of approximately $770.3 million (before taxes), or an annuity paid out over 29 years with increasing annual premiums.

The odds of winning the Powerball are a staggering 1 in 292 million, but that hasn’t stopped hopefuls across the country from purchasing tickets and dreaming of a life-changing win. The next drawing takes place on Saturday, offering another chance to claim the massive prize.

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