Final jackpot total of $564.1 million is fifth-largest ever in USA
By Todd Northrop
Three Powerball lottery tickets sold in North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Texas matched all the winning numbers Wednesday night to share a $564.1 million jackpot.
The winning numbers in the Wed., Feb. 11, 2015, drawing were 11, 13, 25, 39, and 54, with Powerball number 19. The Power Play number was 3.
The $564.1 million Powerball jackpot, which is the fifth-largest of any lottery game in history, started as a $40 million prize on December 3, 2014, and continued accumulating prize money for 20 consecutive drawings, until it was finally won Wednesday night.
Early Sunday morning, around 5:25 am Eastern Time, USA Mega announced the new Powerball jackpot of $450 million after nobody won in the Saturday evening drawing. Then, on Tuesday afternoon lottery officials raised the jackpot estimate to $485 million on bigger-than-expected sales.
Less than 24 hours later, the jackpot estimate for Wednesday's Powerball drawing was raised yet again to $500 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $337.8 million. By draw-time the jackpot had swelled to a jaw-dropping $564.1 million.
In addition to the big jackpot winners, 34 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 2 from Arizona, 3 from California, 2 from Florida, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Kansas, 1 from Louisiana, 2 from Maryland, 3 from Missouri, 1 from New Hampshire, 1 from New Jersey, 4 from New York, 2 from North Carolina, 3 from Ohio, 2 from Pennsylvania, 3 from Texas, 2 from Washington, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The 3 California second-prize winners will each be awarded $1,428,692, because California does not award fixed prizes. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
Out of the 34 second-prize tickets, only one of the tickets sold in Pennsylvania was purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1, automatically doubling that prize to $2 million.
Power Play is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts.
318 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 35 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $30,000, and 33 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $10,314 this drawing.
The jackpot for the Saturday Powerball drawing is reset to $40 million.
Powerball is now played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Someone just become the King or Queen of Puerto Rico.
Awesome!
Well all 3 winners should have a very nice valentines day!
Texas winner from Princeton Texas, east of McKinney, purchased at the Appletree Food Mart. Congrats to the winner. - NOT A QUICK PICK! <-- for you numbers people.
3 2nd prizes from Texas, all quick picks:
Bridgewood Chevron, 1051 Bridgewood, Ft Worth
Star Stop, 2211 N Freeway, Houston
RaceTrac, 220 W Euless Blvd, Euless
Data compliments of the Texas Lottery website.
Seems to me the last 2nd prize in Texas was in Euless.
Congrats to the winners!!
Texas represent! Yee Hawww!!
Okay. Back to Mega Millions then.
Couldn't sleep so got up to get some food. Checked the sites, knew I wouldn't be that Texas winner. Congrats to the winners and best wishes.
Maybe that winner over in the DFW area will take some interest off me if I win MM this Saturday (though many will be more interested in the Puerto Rican win, I imagine).
All those Million dollar prizes is worth playing a game.That should be on all games,,who needs all that money,I guess Im not greedy.Just a little money will help so many.
Congratulations to the winners. That was a fast one by Puerto Rico.
Congrats to the Big 3.
I trust given the 3 states that won this puts an end to the theory that only certain states win.
That money is going to buy a lot of pina coladas.
Only 412,000 tickets were sold in P.R. compared to over $5 million in NC and over 12 million in Texas.
I predicted this would be another boring multiple winner jackpot and not roll or have one winner. Guess at least three people will be glad they paid their "stupid tax".
Sorry to say it wasn't me, but I am very glad that it was a winner from TX.
but I have that weird itch that tells me and those conspiracy nutz will still find reason to bch and moan
Puerto Rico players must not listen to the conspiracy guys or they wouldn't even bother playing. You gotta give it to the people who don't let noise stop them.
I didn't win, but I did get the Powerball# right on all 55 of my tickets!
Having picked 19 for all my tickets, and waking up to see the PB was 19 and there was a winner in my state(North Carolina)... WOW....
My heart was racing as I checked my tickets.
Only $4 and $7 winners, but still feeling pretty good!
Why do Puerto Rico and NC always win ?!?!?!
Congrats to all the lucky winners.
Got the Powerball, doubled my money
Congratulations to all the winners and the 34 second tier winners.
Congratulations to all the winners!! It was a long run!
That is good to hear that so far one ticket was not a QP. I wonder about the Puerto Rico ticket, Qp or not?
I was wondering about you and if you were buying a PB ticket ... it was either you or someone had posted they hadn't bought a PB ticket for months near the end of 2014.
I guess you bought one ticket ... I only bought one and recouped nothing ... but on Tue I hit the MM four times with my four tickets ... I figured the Mega Ball 15 was due and played it on all four tickets with the five QP numbers.
I had one number with the MB on all four tickets, what ruined everything was the multiplier was a 2 and not a 4 or 5.
I have a question for you or anyone else ... when they change the matrix on PB or MM they announce it so everyone is aware of the change ... how about if they make a change only with the multiplier?
I know the PB has more 2s than 5s in their multiplier but the MM has more 5s than 2s in their multiplier ... could they change "just" the multiplier ratio only and not have to announce it? This would only be for the MM game since 2s mostly come out for the PB anyway and they and the states are happy with that happening.
Just to add, can't take much more of this ... Puerto Rico always winning the PB ... should be an investigation of some sort and look at the Virgin Islands always winning ... what's with those islands ???
CW
Good ole Useless has another million dollar winner. Dang.
Amen!
37 millionaires in one night, translates into a lot of sick calls today. Congrats to all the winners. I hope somebody from LP got something big.
Wow, that was a nice hit ... picking the PB 19 and then hitting on 55 tickets ... does 19 mean something special to you or did you just decide to play 19 out of nowhere ?
That's still a nice bunch of hits !
...
Got excited when I saw NC had a winner. Didn't hit a thing though.
Good to read that there were three winners as opposed to just one winner.
Should be interesting to see which one does the best with their windfall after 5 years.
I'm happy to see there was multiple winners. NC was long overdue for a jackpot winner. Congrats and Woo Hoo!
Original Bey and hearsetrax maringoman rcbbuckeye FFS!! Be happy no one is complaining!! Funny thing is the only ones whining and moaning are the ones that complain about conspiracy theorists critical thinkers.
Congrats to all the lucky winners including ronjonson for winning powerball price is right.
Says the member whose tag line reads "States don't win...."
Congratulations to all the winners! Puerto Rico joined Powerball last year. Oct 2014.. They won faster than California when they join on April 8th 2013 and won for the first time on October 23, 2013.. No state tax in Puerto Rico either. No win on my ticket last night! I have a sister that lives in California, Nc and Fla.
I might better be calling them to see if they was a winner. California had 677,042 winners in all. Florida had 485,441 winners total. Check it out! Go to www.powerball.com and click on total winners, there is a list of all the total winners from each state that plays POWERBALL. Well lets try again on Friday! Mega Millions ticket, here I come!
Are you new here!? States don't win is the correct way, however you have to be in a state to win, one cannot be stateless. Nice try changing the subject.
Puerto Rico isn't a state. So you don't have to be in a state to win.
I would insult you but I fear it might go over your head and it would prove a waste of wit. How am I changing the subject? Conspiracy theorists whine that only certain states win. You addressed this in your tag line and have the unmitigated gall to criticize others who dare to do likewise.
I was glad that there was multiple winners also SammyJoe10! Yes, the last winner in NC was Frank Griffin from Asheville NC. He won 5 years ago on Feb 6, 2010.. Our first Powerball winner was from Halifax County NC, Jackie Alston, she won on 11-9-2006, our second winner was from Kings Mountain, Jeff Wilson. He won on June 20,2009. So when our newest winner comes forward, will be anxiously waiting to see who it is, and where they are from! Congrats to all the Lucky winners!
Congratulations to the winners.
I am happy that none of the top winners were from California, Florida, or New York. But wishing that we had gotten one of the million prizes, or even the $10,000.
Now I can just hope that the winner in Puerto Rico is one of my husband's relatives . . . . .
What would have been the story here had California and/or New York sold the winning tickets? Wouldn't you be saying "You see?!" in a very agitated way. Be honest
Congrats to the winners................
the dream was fun while it lasted.
What is Powerball price is right?
Excellent!
Bummed i didn't even get a SINGLE number drawn but happy that there were 37 new millionaires made last night. 3 of which are very very happy indeed. Way to go guys. I'll keep the faith and keep on trooping, who knows my numbers may just come up when i least expect it.
34 second place million dollar winners. Only one second place winner with power play. The other 33 must be thinking, "if I woulda played that extra dollar............" Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
The NC ticket was purchased in Brunswick County. I'm guessing it's a retiree. If it is a retiree, I wonder if they'll move or stay put? The winnings could certainly help the economy around there. Either way congrats! Hopefully NC will have another winner sooner than later.
Too bad there was not just one winner ............... as that would have gotten the Socialist Little Girls panties in a bunch LOL
Congrats to those that won
Wouldn't doubt if it's a snowbird. I think they own most of that area. I know a couple of folks that have homes in Wilmington.
Someone won in Puerto Rico and it was not me
lol. I didn't see that until the morning because the official P.R website had the jackpot at 650 million for saturday , so imagine my surprise when everyone is talking about a winner in P.R. I guess they do it automatically.
We do have a lot of conspiracy theorist here , so I hope that the person gets their price soon before people start coming with their theories of the government stealing the jackpot. Our biggest jackpot in local lottery was never claimed .
I am wondering if the winner/s in Puerto Rico actually own Federal Tax on this winning ticket?
Also they interview the gas station employee and she made a comment about regretting not playing and she said that she hopes the winner remember her and givers a tip of at least half a million.
I really hope the winner remains anonymous and doesn't go looking for fame.
Cool to see a winner from tiny Puerto Rico! Keeps my hopes going for a New Hampshire JP winner someday!
Nope , they have to pay Puerto Rican taxes. Well at least that's what lottery representative is implying when she mention that the Puerto Rican government will receive 25 millions upfront for the taxes.
well played.
True enough, but think of those 'poor' Californians whose laws do not allow Powerplay or Megaplier...just that dreaded para-mutuel nonsense. I will say in CA lawmakers defense though, sometimes it does pay higher.
Or, perhaps quietly, several more folks who don't live or visit regularly in those states would have stopped playing as "every drawing" players.
Unless they don't give you any monies ... then it doesn't matter who won.
The matrix says that Puerto Rico does not tax the winnings!
Politics aside..
Here is a Truism: There were those who were Hoping for One Winner, but instead we got 3- therefore the so called " Congratulations to all three" is really a Hollow statement. Why? Because their original intent was One Winner. The Other two winners screwed thing up for these folks..big-time!!
For some reason I'm doubting you're actually congratulating those guys on winning, seeing as how you previously said it was bad they all won.
Way to show character, others on here are truly happy for them and here you are either jealous or just cranky, trying to provoke others into arguments. Just because you're unhappy doesn't mean you should be trying to bring down others to your level.
If you look at the previous day's news thread showing before drawing you will see the game i came up with that was done "price is right" style. ronjonson made a guess of 550 million would be the ending jackpot amount and that was the closest guess without going over.
I would explain my statement to you .............. but I am unsure that you would understand .......... since you don't understand in the first place LOL
Sure, whatever you say.
To all the conspiracy theorists out there - does this prove you wrong on the NY/CA only theory?
You Happy that none of the Top Winner's were from CA, FL or NY?
The above States contribute massively toward the Jackpots and you saying they have no right to win? Forget about the" they always win" mantra- its not any of those States faults if they produce winners.So add your Dollars to the mix but under no circumstances should you win...just what kind of a Lady are you? ..
Powerball had 34 winners of $1million. Why doesn't MegaMil do that? They don't seem to have alot of winners of 5 balls after the change. I thought the change was supposed to produce big winners.
Congrats to those winners! Very excited for them! Their lives have changed overnight!
Nope, I'm not gonna chase it...I'll wait for MM to go up a little bit more.
Lol...I was even thinking of buying this Island already I was so sure I'm going to win. When I asked how much is the asking price it's in Billions just a chip of the JP winning prize that makes it just the property tax....I'm gonna think about it...just waiting for the ferry to pick us up....hehehe
I was going to post a link to the news article referring to the NC winner but apparently I can't because I'm new. Whatever, I joined in 2005. Go to WECT's news site if you want to see it.
There were 34 winners of $1 million because of the tremendous sales for that draw. There are usually many fewer million dollar winners in PB and MM than 34.
The more tickets sold, the more smaller prize winners.
Look at dpoly getting all salty because he didn't win...
Look at Lucky4Life not understanding hyperbole ..........
I count 34 second place winners ............... There is your "collective" split!
37 millionaires on paper but only 4 of them will have at least 1 million cash(3- Jackpot winners and 1 (5+0)with powerplay) once taxes are taken out.
Well,
The Progressive Income Tax was started by the Progressive Woodrow Wilson .............
When Harding/Coolidge slashed the income taxes and the size of the Federal Budget, unemployment went down to as low as 1.9%!
NOW, that is fighting poverty!
Remember the fortune cookie incident? If something like happened today I wonder if all the second prizes would be fully paid.