Personal finance

Powerball Calculator

Enter the advertised jackpot, the cash value percentage and your tax rate to compare the lump sum with the annuity.

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Jackpot & tax

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Enter the jackpot, cash value and tax rate to compare your options.

Worked example

With these example inputs:

  • Advertised jackpot$500,000,000
  • Cash value52%
  • Tax rate37%

Lump sum after tax: $163,800,000

  • Lump sum before tax$260,000,000
  • Annuity total after tax$315,000,000
  • Annuity per year after tax$10,500,000

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Frequently asked questions

How does the Powerball cash option work?

The advertised jackpot is the annuity total paid over 30 years. The cash option is a single payment worth a percentage of that, often around 60%, before taxes are withheld.

Why is the annuity larger overall?

The annuity pays the full jackpot across 30 growing instalments, while the lump sum is its present value today. The annuity totals more on paper, but the lump sum can be invested immediately.