A Louisiana family was one number away from winning the $1.2 billion jackpot on Monday (September 1), but still collected a six-figure prize, KPLCTV reports.

John Stokes purchased a ticket matching four of the five white numbers and the red Powerball at Billie's Wag-A-Bag in Deridder, which included the "Power Play" option to triple his consolation prize winnings, totaling $150,000.

“We were shocked and feel so blessed,” Stokes said when claiming the prize alongside his family via KPLCTV.

Two players in Montana and North Carolina won the Match 5 + Powerplay consolation prize of $2 million, while two players in New Jersey, as well as one player in California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, all won the Match 5 $1 million consolation prize.

The Powerball jackpot continued to rise after no one won the grand prize on Monday, nor during the $1.44 billion drawing on Wednesday (September 3). Saturday's (September 6) Powerball drawing will be worth an estimated $1.70 billion, which will be the third highest drawing in the game's history and among all U.S. lottery games.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are reported to be 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball.com. One player won the $205 million Powerball drawing on May 31.

A ticket purchased in California matched all five white numbers and the red Powerball. The Powerball had previously reset after one player won the $167 million Powerball drawing on April 26. A ticket purchased in Kentucky matched all five white numbers and the red Powerball, resetting the next drawing to $20 million ($10.2 million cash value) for April 28.

One player in California matched all six numbers to win the $2.04 billion ($997.6 million) jackpot on November 7, 2022, the largest jackpot offered in U.S. lottery history, according to the official Powerball website. Powerball has had jackpots exceeding $1 billion six times.

Mega Millions games have also exceeded $1 billion six times, which includes its largest offering, a $1.603 billion jackpot that was one by a player in Florida on August 8. Both jackpots increase during each following game until there's a jackpot winning ticket matching all six numbers drawn, which includes the additional Mega Millions Gold Ball or Powerball in each respective game.

Bob Pickett