Sets record for largest Powerball cash value
By Todd Northrop
As a result of brisker than expected ticket sales, lottery officials announced today that the Powerball jackpot has been raised from $305 million to $320 million for Wednesday's drawing.
The jackpot increase immediately launched Wednesday's drawing to #11 on the United States all-time biggest jackpots list. It will be the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot ever. The largest Powerball jackpot ever recorded was $365 million won six years ago.
Even bigger news is the jackpot's cash value — at $213.3 million, it will be the largest ever up for grabs in Powerball history.
With the new Powerball enhancements implemented in mid-January, the game has been redesigned to generate bigger jackpots and more millionaires.
The Powerball jackpot has been growing since Jun. 27 and has rolled 14 times.
The $320 million jackpot estimate could easily be greater than that by the time the drawing takes place Wednesday night, Virginia Lottery Executive Director Paula Otto said, as jackpot hopefuls hit the ticket machines in the hours leading up to the drawing.
"We sell the most tickets the night of the drawing," Ms. Otto said. "It'll be interesting to see if the country's excitement meter has gotten reset after that $600 million jackpot."
In early April, a world record Mega Millions $656 million jackpot captured the imagination of lottery players around the country, as wishful gamblers tried their luck at a slice of the largest jackpot in world history.
If there is no Grand Prize winner Wednesday night, the estimate for next Saturday's Powerball drawing (Aug. 18, 2012) will be greater than $400,000,000 — the largest Powerball jackpot ever.
Powerball tickets are $2 per play, or $3 per play with the optional Power Play option.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, any non-jackpot prize is increased according to a fixed prize schedule, which can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
Saturday's Powerball winning number results will be published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the 10:59 pm (Eastern Time) drawing takes place.
$320 million sounds good to me....
Oh man, ya'll gonna make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here! - DMX
$320M is outrageous! My stomach is churning and my loins are burning with excitement!
Yep, that kind of rich!
Yes powerball is coming home to Mcminnville, Oregon were it belongs.-weshar75
I just bought my second ticket. Yeehaw!
well...... the powerball just got interesting
My house when I get that lucky
good luck to those playing but I still say its gonna roll over and hit in VA this Saturday
I already have my tickets. 500 lines worth, purchased yesterday. Not going to buy anymore for this drawing even though I'm tempted to. If it rolls again Wednesday night, I'm going to have to open the wallet again to play for what will be the largest powerball prize ever.
If it rolls, I predict a $500,000,000 jackpot
Wonder if this guy is playing for Wednesday's jackpot?
Hint: He won the Powerball back in 2002 for $315 million, then lost it all.
The good ol Midwest.. southern Indiana!!! although I wouldn't mind sharing with Oregon if the numbers rolled... Heck.. even 1000 would be winning the lottery for me right now.. timing couldn't b any better :)
That's just mean! LOL
if hes smart ....hes in deeeeeep hiding
$320 million....this is the kind of jackpot people were hoping for when Powerball bumped the price of tickets to $2 each. The first few months when the jackpot would get up to around $70 million and then get reset seem to be long forgotten right now.
I can't see how anybody can throw that much money away in such a short period of time.. INSANE.. however he may play $2 to try lose it again!! ;-)
Hmmmm....wonder if hearse is from VA.