Winning Powerball lottery tickets sold in Arizona, Missouri
Final jackpot total of $587.5 million will be split 2 ways
How would you react if you won?
By Todd Northrop
The largest Powerball lottery jackpot the world has ever seen has been won Wednesday night by two tickets sold in Arizona and Missouri.
The stage was set for the massive prize early Sunday morning, when lottery officials set the new Powerball lottery jackpot at an estimated $425 million. Over the next few days, extremely high demand for Powerball tickets prompted officials to raise the jackpot two more times before the Wednesday drawing — and by the time all the sales were totalled at draw time, the jackpot stood at a faint-inducing $587.5 million.
The final lump-sum cash value of the jackpot was $384.7 million.
The Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday, November 28, 2012, were 5, 16, 22, 23, and 29, with Powerball number 6.
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot was the accumulation of 15 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner over a nearly two-month stretch. The jackpot run-up started as a $40 million grand prize on Oct. 6, 2012.
The 16th drawing was the charm, and it produced two big winners who will split the jackpot.
The two winners probably got very little sleep Wednesday night, as they try to process winning the Powerball's largest lottery jackpot ever.
Are the winners running around the house screaming? Are they calling their family? Or maybe calling their boss to quit their job? What are they planning to do with all that loot?
What is the first thing you would do?
Fortunately, even if you didn't win the jackpot, the Powerball game still offers another 8 ways to win lower-tier prizes.
In addition to the jackpot winners, a whopping 66 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers, but not the Powerball, for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arizona, 1 from Colorado (with Power Play), 3 from Connecticut (1 with Power Play), 6 from Florida (2 with Power Play), 1 from Georgia, 1 from Idaho, 2 from Illinois, 2 from Indiana, 1 from Kentucky, 1 from Louisiana, 1 from Maryland (with Power Play), 4 from Massachusetts, 2 from Michigan, 1 from Minnesota, 2 from Missouri, 8 from New Jersey, 2 from New Mexico (1 with Power Play), 4 from New York, 3 from North Carolina, 2 from Ohio (1 with Power Play), 1 from Oklahoma, 3 from Pennsylvania, 3 from South Carolina (1 with Power Play), 2 from Tennessee, 4 from Texas, 4 from Virginia, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The 8 second-prize winners indicated with the Power Play option purchased their Powerball tickets with the Power Play option for an extra $1. Because they purchased the Power Play, their ticket is now worth $2 million.
Also, 532 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 47 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $40,000.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
After all the proceeds were counted, Wednesday's $579.9 million Powerball jackpot stood as the 2nd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, nearly reaching the all-time record.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 26, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295 million, Aug. 25, 2001 - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $294 million, Jul. 2, 2004 - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $276.3 million, Mar. 15, 2008 - West Virgina
- Mega Millions: $275 million, Feb. 22, 2008 - Georgia
- Mega Millions: $270 million, Feb. 28, 2006 - Ohio
- Mega Millions: $266 million, May 4, 2010 - California
- Mega Millions: $265 million, Apr. 18, 2006 - Ohio
- Powerball: $261.6 million, Jun. 2, 2010 - Ohio
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 12
- Powerball: 11
- The Big Game: 2
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
Top 20 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth. The Wednesday Powerball jackpot's $379.8 million cash value ranks as the 2nd-highest lump-sum cash value jackpot in history.
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $194.4. million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
- Powerball: $166 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $164.4 million cash, won Oct. 19, 2005 ($340 million annuity) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $164 million cash, Feb. 28, 2006 ($270 million annuity) - Ohio
- Powerball: $161.5 million cash, July 29, 1998 ($295.7 million annuity) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $156.1 million cash, Sept. 16, 2005 ($258 million annuity) - New Jersey
Story Updated, 6:24 pm: The jackpot has been updated in the story to reflect the final jackpot tally of $587.5 million, with a lump-sum cash value of $384.7 million. These figures were not available until the proceeds from each state were calculated.
Ronnie316?
Don't forget me pal!
so much for the billion dollar jackpot
OMG! I won the lottery jackpot!!!!!!!!
Wow 66 second places. Thats a record.
Congrat's tigerfan!!!
Will you be writing a book on your story?
I'm glad a new member won also, what a happy ending for you.
Congrats! now go have some fun!
where's the party gonna be? Missouri loves company.
Congratz to the two big winners .....I only got two numbers
Well, odds wise for the top prize, it played out as it should, as a massive 66 tickets got 2nd prize for 1 million. To have 2 winning tickets, that's 68 total that had all 5 white balls, with 35 : 1 odds of also matching the powerball. 35 x 2 = 70
Seriously? Congratulations!!!
Who is the other member who won the jackpot and for how much?
What happens if too many people win the lower prizes? There were only ~$530 million in sales (then only half to 2/3 of that is for prizes). While there was $511 million in prizes. Do they reduce the cash payout on the top prize?
So a fellow Arizonan has split this Jackpot i.e. walking away with about $290 million. That is certainly much bigger than the Mega split in March in which each of the three winning contestants pocketed $218 million. Congrats!!! On Saturday, another Arizonan was one of the luckiest of the lucky lucky few to have won the second place of $ 1 million. Certainly this is the biggest prize Arizona has won in the Powerball which is almost three times as big as its last largest Powerball win of 17 years ago that stood at $102 million. Though I did not win, I can console myself that on October 13, I managed to clinch $4 at least on this recently concluded historical Powerball lotto bandwagon. even today, I almost won, i.e. clinching two numbers i.e. 5 and 23, just as I almost did at the Mega during that historical March Jackpot i.e. 2 and 23, suggesting that my game is not totally off-base when it comes to clinching something in the two lotto games. Maybe Lady Luck will someday show me more mercy as we re-adjust to the normal $40 million minimum Powerball lotto Jackpot, come Saturday. Meanwhile the billion dollar Jackpot can wait for another in both the Mega and Powerball lotto games!!!
I WON SECOND PLACE FOR A MILLION BUCKS IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA , OUT OF THAT I SHOULD GET $750,000.00 AFTER FEDERAL TAXES BEING THAT THERE IS NO STATE TAX FOR LOTTERY PRIZES IN THE STATE P.A...........IM HAPPY WITH THAT.
That is awesome man! Congratulations! I would been happy with a million! If you do not mind, was the powerball you picked close to the winning number?
Sigh...I really hope no one is gullible enough to believe that anyone who won, especially the top prize is going to come on here and post it. Regardless, Todd has all the IP addresses so he can easily verify if it is even possible for the so called winners to have actually won for the most part.
I guess if it entertains you then so be it. lol
I got my $4 back so I am happy.
Oh, I would've been on top of the world, but I didn't get a single number. The hype for that is over. I was listening to my favorite Radio DJ yesterday and he talked about guy in the store who spent 1000 dollars on Powerball. Doug admitted he bought 100 dollars worth of tickets just for fun. He knows he's not going to win, but he said that guy who dropped a thousand dollars is going to be mad as hell today. lol
From now on when I buy my tickets, I will not talk about what going to do if I win. I'm going to just buy a ticket and throw it to the side. I'm not playing MM or PB for awhile. I always wait until the JPs gets higher.
my powerball number is 11, so yea its pretty close ......i purchased all quick picks.
A lot of people won! Some will fake it and other will tell the truth. For those who really won a little or alot, congrats who ever you are.
<snip>! 1 million is still awesome! Congratulations again!
Let me clarify myself. I said a fellow Arizonan won $1 million during this recently-concluded Powerball jackpot bandwagon last Saturday. It was not I that won that $1 million. However during the recently concluded Jackpot bandwagon frenzy, I managed to win $4 on October 13 whcih has been a sort of psychological consolation in light of the frenzy surrounding this recently concluded jackpot frenzy.
LOL!! Nope not me!! I'd want to see the picture but then again when MegaMillions went to a
record jackpot, "winning tickets" were posted all Facebook and the rest of the net. lol
I only had one number #16
But it was fun to dream and a fun ride. Let's do it again!!!
Congratulations to ALL the winners, a Special Shout out to the two Jackpot Winners....
Lol I knew it 5 was going to to be the starting number. I picked 10 columns and I got like 5,6,12,44,48-17.
Congrats to the winners. My only request is you wait a little bit to show up to the offices until after I've won MM so the spotlight doesn't stay on that MM jackpot win. Or just stay a recurring news feature for the next while.
And I just noticed when I was looking at my ticket that the bottom says something about it being a record breaking PB jackpot and that I should buy my ticket today. Found it odd since it was telling me to play PB, when I've obviously done just that.
And today's winning Lottery numbers are NOT yours....
Wow, 105 tickets for my office pool, and for the first time ever, our pool had 0 winning tickets. Not even a $4.
I only bought one ticket and didn't win a darn thing (i did have 1 number right),but the letdown is not as bad as those who spent a ton of money on tickets!
Interesting that all the white balls were below 31. The old birthday paradox method. Figured more people would have hit since all numbers were below 31.
If you had 158 grand sitting around and played all the combos you would have won a cool million.
I feel so sad to hear the news about 2 new Millionaires from Arizona and Missouri...I couldn't believe that I didn't make it for the nth time. But I will always try and be eager to play lottery games....
Congrats to the Winners
Congrats to all the winners.
Since I did not win I am sooooooooo happy for Arizona and Missouri winning. Just glad anyone won besides NEW YORK!
well I just got through checking my tickets ........
and got ed again
Missouri is the ''show-me-the-money'' state and POWERBALL really showed them the money this time!
This had to have been a fluke.
NY should have taken this mammoth jackpot down again.
I think there should be an investigation, and AZ & MO need to relinquish any claims to this drawing immediately!
Shameful, just plain shameful!
Where is MzDuffleBagLady? I hope she can now change her name to MzMoneyBagLady.
I bought 2 tickets and didn't match anything. The clerks at a local gas station were talking about a guy buying
1,000 tickets. - with PP, that's $3,000? I think I'd rather put that money on a pick 3 or 4. $3,000 on
777 would get me $1,500,000.
$3,000 on the 1111 we just got would pay $15,000,000 LOL
Good luck in the next round everyone!
Please do not give New York any ideas, they may just scheme up a plan and ask Powerball for a redo!
If that were to happen NY would win for sure and only one person would win the whole jackpot in NY because NY is greedy like that.
I can't stand New Yorkers, esp since they have taken over the lotteries. lol
They have not gone without winning at least EVERY 2nd prize this year on Powerball.
Lmaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo@ dr65
I wish, it wasn't me, lol, I had 2 numbers, 23 is my lucky number, but, I had that as my Powerball, and I had the number 5. That's it.
I"m trying to find out now, what area those 2 winning tickets came from. I had a feeling someone in Missouri would get a piece of it.
ou might be a winner! Remember, all winning tickets must be claimed within 180 days from the drawing date.
Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 5-16-22-23-29 PB: 6 POWER PLAY:
MO Power
Play Prizes
Good Luck.
Congrats to all the winners! I'm surprised there were only 2 jackpot winners with all the birthday numbers drawn. I won $4.00 on the PB which I'll roll to Saturday's draw.
Time to deflate and go back to normal lottery crazy.
That's a great idea Erzulieredeyes!
A redo is just what the doctor ordered.
Particularly in light of the devastation they suffered from Sandy, NY needs this win, NY deserves this win!
We need to get a petition going right away.
Hurray for NY, God bless America!
Arizona has won a powerball jackpot. Ronnie wish has come true.
Was Ronnie the winner. Ronnie always buys multiple lines. He is a LOTTERY WHALE.
It will be great if he won. He is a great member in the lottery post community.
Did you wake up finally? Funny how during every record jackpot new members arrive claiming they won trying to rile up others and seeking attention. Face it you did not win crap. If you did post some pics of the ticket, and post your name now so when the winners are revealed they match. I guarantee that you won't do either. The Powerball is just an evil game that gets people's hopes up and makes them excited only to be severely let down and depressed once they find out they lost...again. I am not convinced that anyone actually wins it until I see a winner I know or get a winning ticket myself. I matched 2 numbers and the powerball and only played 2 tickets. I hope to win the raffle again this year also as I won $100 last year playing one ticket. I have won thousands on smaller games but I still don't trust the jackpot games 100%.