Fresh 2025 Data—Jackpots Are Bigger Than Ever!
Latest Jackpots (November 2025)
- Powerball: $419M (next draw), reached $1.787B in September 2025 (second-largest ever)
- Mega Millions: $800M (next draw), $1.269B in December 2024 (recent historic)
Recent Changes:
- Mega Millions increased starting jackpot to $50M & ticket price from $2 to $5. Slightly Improved odds.
- Powerball continues to drive the biggest prizes, with more frequent draws (3x/week).
Powerball vs. Mega Millions: The Ultimate Showdown of Jackpot Giants
Powerball and Mega Millions are the biggest lottery jackpots on the planet. If you are dreaming of winning really big and radically transform your life, look no further than those two.
Players from countries across the globe flock to play these US based lottery games for the life-altering sums routinely topping hundreds of millions. Powerball has set world records with its $2.04 billion and most recently $1.73 billion jackpot. Mega Millions is not far behind, having recently awarded a $1.58 billion jackpot.
Once you move past the talk of insanely lucky rich overnight winners, you may notice more similarities between these heavy hitters. In both games, the rules ask you to choose 5 random base numbers, plus 1 additional bonus number. The range to choose the numbers from is almost identical, with 1-69 for the 5 base numbers + 1-26 for the Powerball, and 1-70 for the 5 base numbers + 1-25 for the Mega Ball.
Because they are so similar, a lot of people play the same numbers in both lotteries. But focusing on only one can help you both maximize your chances to win, and keep an eye on your budget.
So, which lottery has the best odds and payouts and deserver more of your attention? Let’s dive in and compare the key factors between Powerball and Mega Millions, so you can then decide the best way to play your lucky numbers!
Odds Comparisons & Expected Value
First, we looked at the odds of winning for the two lotteries, as shown in the table below.
| Prize | Powerball | Mega Millions |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot Odds (5 Matches + Bonus) | 1 in 292 million | 1 in 290 million |
| Any Price Odds (Overall) | 1 in 25 | 1 in 23 |
| Ticket Price | $2 | $2 |
| Expected Value Break-even Jackpot | $490M | $1.2B |
Updated Jackpot History (2025, Last 10 Draws)
| Date | Powerball | Mega Millions |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 3, 2025 | $419M | $800M |
| Nov 1, 2025 | $400M | $754M |
| Oct 29, 2025 | $376M | $714M |
| Oct 27, 2025 | $358M | $680M |
| Oct 25, 2025 | $344M | $650M |
| Oct 22, 2025 | $320M | $625M |
| Oct 20, 2025 | $304M | $650M |
| Oct 18, 2025 | $295M | $714M |
| Oct 15, 2025 | $273M | $754M |
| Oct 11, 2025 | $145M | $474M |
Verdict (2025 Edition)
- Powerball: Remains the “best value” and “most trustworthy” choice for 2025—with massive jackpots, fair draws, and smaller expected losses per ticket.
- Mega Millions: A higher risk, higher reward choice for players chasing the biggest jackpots, but now with steeper ticket prices and slightly increased odds of winning any prize.
Always play responsibly. No system can predict or change your odds!