Powerball jackpot for Christmas Eve hits $1.7 billion

The Powerball jackpot for Christmas Eve rose to $1.7 billion after Monday’s drawing yielded no big winner.

The numbers in the Dec. 22 draw were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 and the Powerball 7.

Across the United States, nine players matched five numbers but not the Powerball, to win $1 million each. In California, the biggest winners matched four numbers, for about $16,000, the state lottery agency said.

A $1.7 billion jackpot would be the fourth biggest in U.S. lottery history and would have a cash value of $781 million.

The top prize was last won on Sept. 6, when $1.787 billion was split by winners in Missouri and Texas. Since then, there have been 46 drawings without a big winner.

Powerball draws are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; tickets are $2 each. Mega Millions, with draws on Tuesday and Friday, currently has a jackpot of $100 million.