The Powerball jackpot has hit the high-water mark of $605 million, attracting players for the highly anticipated drawing on Monday, Aug. 18 at 11 p.m. ET.
The grand prize, though sizeable, still has a way to go before it can rank among the top ten Powerball jackpots. To reach the tenth spot, the prize must surpass $731.1 million, which was won in Maryland on Jan. 20, 2021. To claim the top spot, the total payout would need to be over $2.04 billion, which was won in California on Nov. 7, 2022.
Laws in some states would allow a winner to claim the jackpot anonymously. If the first winner since the May 31 drawing is in one of those states, we may never know who it is.
Aug. 18’s jackpot clears all prize-size requirements in states that have them. Arkansas is the only state that grants anonymity for winners on a temporary basis, with the identities of winners in the state shielded for three years.
Here are the places where winners can claim lottery prizes anonymously, along with the requirements for doing so.
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Map: Where lottery winners can remain anonymous
Arizona: Prize must be over $100,000
Arkansas: Prize must be over $500,000, and a winner is only anonymous for three years
Delaware: Any prize
Georgia: Prize must be over $250,000
Illinois: Prize must be over $250,000
Kansas: Any prize
Maryland: Any prize
Michigan: Prize must be over $10,000; state-run games only
Minnesota: Prize must be over $10,000
Mississippi: Any prize
Missouri: Any prize
Montana: Any prize
New Jersey: Any prize
North Dakota: Any prize
South Carolina: Any prize
Texas: Prize must be over $1 million
Virginia: Prize must be greater than $10 million
West Virginia: Prize must be over $1 million
Wyoming: Any prize
What should you do if you win the Powerball?
The “smartest thing” a player can do, in the event of beating the one in 292,201,338 odds, is keep calm and carry on, financial advisers shared with USA TODAY back in 2024.
Avoid posting any and all details of your win on social media and limit who you tell about your windfall.
“If you’re lucky enough to win the lottery, keep it quiet,” Rob Burnette, an Ohio-based financial adviser at Outlook Financial Center, said. “Get organized and make a plan. Consider staying anonymous, if it’s a possibility.”
If you find yourself in a situation where you stand to inherit millions of dollars, the best thing to do is get in touch with financial experts right off the bat so scammers don’t have the chance to take advantage before you can cash in.
Steve Azoury, owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan, who has advised many lottery winners, told USA TODAY that a $181 million winner said,” ‘If I didn’t know you before, I don’t want to know you now.’”
“Get a tax attorney and a tax accountant right off the bat and then a financial adviser,” Azoury said. “They’ll work hand in hand to figure out the plan.”
Where to buy lottery tickets
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
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, Ohio, 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.
Contributing: Medora Lee, Amaris Encinas – USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Powerball jackpot hits 2025 high; Here’s where winners can be anonymous
