Bits & Odds

Powerball $687 Million After Taxes in California

The Powerball jackpot for Monday, October 26, 2026, 10:59 pm ET, is $687 million, or $294.7 million cash. A single winner in California who takes the cash keeps about $185.7 million after federal tax; California takes no state tax.

Next drawing · Monday, October 26, 2026 10:59 pm ET
Estimated jackpot
$687 million
Cash value
$294.7 million
Cash after tax in California
$185.7 million
Annuity, year 1 after tax
$6.6 million

Did anyone win?

Saturday, October 24, 2026: ----, Powerball

Nobody matched all five numbers and the Powerball, so the $674 million jackpot rolls to $687 million (cash value $295 million) for Monday, October 26, 2026 at 10:59 pm ET.

If nobody wins on Monday, past runs put the October 28, 2026 jackpot near $726 million, and a California winner would keep about $196.1 million. A projection, not the operator's figure.

Lump sum vs annuity in California

One winner, single filer, 2026 federal brackets. California takes no state tax (has income tax but exempts California Lottery prizes).

Lump sumAnnuity, 30 years
Before tax$294.7 million$687 million
Federal withheld, 24%−$70.7 million−$164.9 million
California withheld$0$0
Paid to you$224.0 million$522.1 million
Federal still due at filing−$38.3 million−$87.8 million
Kept after tax$185.7 million$434.3 million

Federal: 24% withheld, up to 37% owed

The lottery withholds 24% for the IRS before it pays. A jackpot puts almost all of the prize in the 37% bracket, so the federal bill on the cash comes to $108,989,000, 37.0% of it, and the $38,261,000 the withholding missed is due with the return. Set it aside: the cheque is not what you keep.

California tax on a Powerball jackpot

California takes no state tax on lottery prizes (has income tax but exempts California Lottery prizes). Only federal tax applies. No state leaves a winner more: California ties with 8 others with no lottery tax, $32.1 million more than in New York.

Source: California Franchise Tax Board, gambling income, rates checked October 18, 2026. California lottery taxes on any prize.

The annuity, year by year

Thirty payments, each 5% bigger than the last, taxed in the year it is paid.

PaymentBefore taxAfter tax in California
Year 1$10.3 million$6.6 million
Year 10$16.0 million$10.2 million
Year 20$26.1 million$16.5 million
Year 30$42.6 million$26.9 million

Every state side by side · California Powerball: numbers, add-ons, ticket value · Tax calculator for any prize

Powerball after taxes in California: questions

How much is the Powerball jackpot after taxes in California?
For Monday, October 26, 2026, the advertised jackpot is $687 million and the cash value $294.7 million. A single winner in California who takes the cash keeps about $185.7 million once the federal bill is paid at filing. The annuity pays about $6.6 million after tax in the first year and $434.3 million over 30 years.
How much tax is taken out of Powerball winnings in California?
At the claim, 24% federal: on the $294.7 million cash value that is $70.7 million, leaving a cheque of $224.0 million. A jackpot is taxed at up to 37%, so about $38.3 million more is due with the federal return.
Lump sum or annuity: which keeps more in California?
Over 30 years the annuity pays more in total after tax, $434.3 million against $185.7 million for the cash, because the advertised jackpot is the sum of payments that rise 5% a year. The cash is all paid now and could be invested; almost every jackpot winner takes it.
Did anyone win the Powerball jackpot on October 24, 2026?
No. Nobody matched all five numbers and the Powerball, so the $674 million jackpot rolls to $687 million (cash value $295 million) for Monday, October 26, 2026 at 10:59 pm ET. The numbers and every prize tier.
Do I pay California tax if I live in another state?
California takes nothing on a ticket bought here. Your home state may tax the prize too, usually with a credit for tax paid to the state where the ticket was sold. The calculator takes any rate.