5th-largest US jackpot ever; 8th-largest cash value
By Todd Northrop
For only the 5th time in the history of United States lotteries, a lottery jackpot has grown to $400 million or more.
The new high-water mark of $400 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $301 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $223.6 million. After-tax cash and annuity prize amounts are reported state-by-state on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded was on May 18, 2013, when Gloria C. MacKenzie of Zephyrhills, Florida, held the solitary winning ticket for a grand prize worth nearly $600 million (see Winner of record $590.5 million Powerball lottery jackpot announced, Lottery Post, June 5, 2013).
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. However, Saturday's drawing was a bit of an aberration, as the lottery had overestimated the jackpot, and it settled back to $301 million from an initial estimate of $317 million after all the proceeds were counted just before draw time.
The mammoth prize is the result of 11 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on Aug. 10, 2013.
The winning numbers for Saturday, September 14, 2013 were 1, 17, 25, 37, and 44, with Powerball number 20.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 11 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 1 from Georgia, 1 from Idaho, 1 from Maryland, 2 from New York, 1 from Ohio, 2 from Pennsylvania, 1 from South Carolina, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The California second-prize winner will be awarded a whopping $2,479,122, 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. Because there was only one second-prize winner in California, that one ticket will take home the entire pool of money allocated for second prize.
None of the second-prize tickets was purchased with the Power Play option. If a second-prize ticket were purchased with the Power Play option, the prize would automatically be doubled 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.
65 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 6 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $40,000, and 6 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $13,295 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $99 million from its previous amount of $301 million. The cash value was raised by $56.2 million from its previous amount of $167.4 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Wednesday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.
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.
Powerball is now played in 43 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
A 44th Powerball state will be added in early 2014, as the state of Wyoming has approved a new state lottery with the intention of joining Powerball and other multi-state lottery games. (See Wyoming officially becomes 44th state with a lottery, Lottery Post, Mar. 14, 2013.)
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.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 5th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Wednesday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Wednesday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $400 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- 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
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 9
- 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 25 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.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Powerball jackpot ranks as the 8th-largest cash value in U.S. 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
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- 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
- Powerball: $223.6 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($400 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- 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
- Mega Millions: $153.3 million cash, Dec. 27, 2011 ($208 million annuity) - New York
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 13
- Powerball: 11
- The Big Game: 1
$400 million Woo Hoo
A storm is raging in Powerball arena.
Many will join the fiasco pullng out money to savagely buy powerball tickets EAGER TO WIN.
If no one wins this time the grand prize will undouftedly go above $500 million easy!!!
I always buy 2 or 3 tickets , let us see how the storm razes!!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have my numbers already picked out and plan to go crazy and buy TWO TICKETS!!!!
Let the madness begin! Good luck to my LP friends!
singlewinnersinglewinnersinglewinner
Time to pay a visit to THRIFTY. Got two tickets with pplay already. HAVE FUN Y'ALL.
Powerball: $224.7�million cash, Aug.�15,�2012 ($337�million�annuity)�- Michigan
Powerball: $223.6�million cash, Sep.�18,�2013 ($400�million�annuity)�- Preliminary estimate
They clearly have been playing around Estimate numbers to make it seem make a higher jackpot how can $337 have a higher cash value than $400 ?????
They have been lowballing the Estimated Jackpot number it appears
I've already got my ticket.Call me cheap,but I only purchase one ticket per drawing 'cause you only need one to win it all!
I think I'll go all out this draw and get TWO tics w/PP.
I won $10 on AON the other day to help pay for it along with the other jackpot games I play.
Yeah, I might just go absolutely crazy nutso and buy two tickets for this draw as well.
As far as the prize money, I prefer to deal with the reality of the cash, after taxes amount: $167,700,000 looks very nice when it's written down and it'll look even nicer as a line item in my bank account too. But hey, if it's a shared jackpot prize, I'd be happy seeing $83,850,000 too.
No winner in last night's PB. Here we go again boys and girls, let the frenzy drum on.
Pardon me for asking but, where are Ronnie and others who had a knack for how do I put this delicately, being insipid and cantankerous? I have been incognito for a spell so, I might have missed a few things.
(I might have posted ad identical post earlier........)
"The only sure thing about luck, is that it will change" - Bret Harte
They have not been underestimating jackpots.
The yield on Government bonds was a bit lower during the same time last year. Just another reason why I don't much emphasis on Annuities especially those that are back end weighted. Inflation by itself will absorb all of the perceived value.
I want to buy some tickets for yet another exciting Powerball drawing(s)
Dang IT, why am I never there when the jackpots are $300+milion
I been trying to calculate about when the next one will be an might plan my "vacation"/ off time around then. heheeh see some old friends an family...then buy a few tickets (PB) and...umm WIN lol
Alright...well good luck to you all whom shall be playing
Get that kickety
Buy that tickety
Don't worry Sir an Honey
Bam boozle a little money
Jacks' pot 0' millions, our minds been
Good haste comin, financial win
And to put full faith in Gov't Bonds for 20-30 years based upon the current global situations.....no thanks! Show me the MONEY!!!!!
Call me crazy but I think it's just stupid to have one huge prize. I understand that's the purpose of the Lotto but I think the players would be better served with more opportunity. I know nobody plays the smaller jackpots like they do these monsters but it's just a waste as nobody needs that much money. Just my opinion.
I've always preferred Mega Million over Powerball but it looks like Powerball knocked the dust off Mega Millions as the preferred lotto game and LARGE jackpots this year with all these $300M+ jackpots.
All we can do is buy and try Good Luck everyone
Hey Crazy!!!
That's why lotteries have other games with smaller prizes such as PICK 3/4/5, scratch offs and local lottos that offer millions that usually gets hit way before it hits the $40 Million range.
If you don't like the idea of one single person winning such a huge amount then DON'T PLAY! One less person in my way of winning! - lol -
This is usually when tickets sales double and people take notice. Last nights drawing did'nt sell as many as the last time it was 300mill. Hard to believe MM is still king.
I love that line:" buy and try"....I'm going to have to give you royalties ......
good luck to everyone....
Imma' hoping that my bank account will 'explode' with a Powerball jackpot wire transfer LOL!
I want to go green .................
........... green with money
Best wishes to everyone at LP
Ronnie got sent to the "land of no avatar". Don't know what his actual sin was though. I guess being insipid and cantankerous.
Okay, I'll call you crazy.
I don't get this fast spreading communist mentality of one group of people trying to tell another group how much is too much for them to have. I'm not sure there is actually anything more stupd than that.
If YOU don't want that amount of money then the smart thing would be not to play. Only play those lotteries that have a top prize of $250k - $1M. Go ahead and limit yourself, riduculous for you to try to limit others.
Maybe there is a god.
Or a moderator.
Off topic:
TEXANS GONNA WIN! WOOOO!
PS - Did anyone ever tell you, tnlotto, when the Oilers moved to Tennessee, "This Buds for you"?
I hope a "Texan" (not the football team) wins the jackpot. Especially THIS Texan! LOL.
I think I would get a few hundred acres in the heart of the hill country and watch the world go to pieces.
Any Texan will do, but either you or me would be best.
http://www.landsoftexas.com/texas/
TOUCHDOWN TEXANS!
What he/she (Teddi) said!!!!
This one is going to Ohio, maybe you can buy those acres next round. :)
I've got a club with 11 members in it, maybe we'll split it.
l am in a Club of One, but l don't mind having a slice of this jackpot cake.The thought is absolutely exhilarating.
Perhaps pick3 is more inline with your logic.
Then just play the smaller games and leave the Large Jackpots to us LOL
It will go to 500 Million before Wednesday, just send me the money, gone fishing...and going tomorrow on Lake Erie... Might be able to buy me a boat....
and some present for my grandkids too,. LMAO
Great post Teddi. I assume wwwbuktn is trolling the board. I'll take a crack at this "spreading communist mentality" you speak of. The INFLATION caused by our Federal Reserve Bank to pay for all the "goodies" the voters want is slowly eliminating capital formation for small businesses and jobs for the middle class. This is eroding the middle class which brings out envy.
Cheers
I"ve got 2 tickets of my own, and my club has 4 Powerball tickets. We also have 3 MegaMillions and 2 Louisiana Lotto tickets. MegaMillions is a $130million and Louisiana Lotto is at $1.325 million, which is higher than usual.
The Powerball is probably going to higher now that there's a buying frenzy going on.
Always think big!
But $400 million cash payout (not annuity) and AFTER taxes might just do it for me. LOL.
I think that's the level I can have anything I even dream of wanting and still not have to say 'no' to any family member, friend, alma mater or favorite charity. Ever. Everyone wins.
Looks like you have covered all the angles P6- good for you.
Would winning this or a part of this jackpot make you " freer?" This is not a trick question. .
* With all due respect: California is way overdue for its first PB win, your combined pleas for this jackpot to end up there is greatly appreciated. California sends its thanks in advance.
"I'm not talking about some $200,000 a year walking stiff and living comfortable. I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to own your on jet. Rich enough not to waste time. 50 or 100 million dollars buddy. A player."
Gordon Gekko
California is waiting for the numbers to fall to her, if not, Oregon or Washington State.
Lets make this a Pacific Coast State win. I don't think many people would mind considering that California is the newest State introduced to PB- let's welcome the newbie with her first win..
Lets let California wait her turn,There are plenty of people in other states that have waited years to win.
Agreed. Texas joined in 2010 and did not win PB JP until this year, 3 years later. How many states have yet to win PB JP? Several, I'd guess. CA doesn't have 'it's turn'.
But she has waited Cletus, since April. What harm is there in her having her first win? You cannot be seriously suggesting that every State should have a winner before California has at least one? Where is your compassion?
* Piaceri- Texas not winning for 3 years is not California fault. Your State is too Big and not enough players. Therein lies the Rub.
While I'm not willing to do that, I am willing to put the Pacific Coast States at the top of list of place to travel if I win that jackpot.
Let her wait years like most other lottery players have.It's only right.
Right?- Did Eve have the right to eat of the fruit?
What does Adam & Eve have to do with this?
That's what I'm talkin' about!
1 ticket ............ 1 winner!
My body is ready.
YOU (as if it makes it mean more in upper case) clearly take yourself way to seriously. I wasn't trying to tell anybody anything. I just think it's kind of stupid to have one winner every two months or so.
"Go ahead and limit yourself, ridiculous for you to try to limit others." Thanks, I needed a good laugh.
I agree! Or in the "words" of the former member:
Me and my brother have a few acres of farm and woods in Ohio. Used to fish Lake Erie a lot. Kinda miss it, but not the winters.
On the PB website they actually explain that after a focus group told them they wanted multiple million dollar winners/ winning prizes, MUSL started that game. "No one played".
Guess if that bothers you, you always have your state lotto game to play.
I hope one of the LP members win this. Let everyone rejoice here. Go ahead and make this website proud!
WWWBUKTN I don't even understand what is the problem because PB is a two in one kinda game. Those who aim for big money could aim to win $40M+ jackpot and those who just want some small jackpot could aim to win $2M. Even if a winner lives in NYC, $2M is still good bread.
Congrats on the win, that was a good game. I will be at the game here in Nashville in December to end the regular season.
I got my tickets and I will share either jackpot this week with someone else. I could handle $65 million or $200 million for either jackpot. I am not greedy I would just like to win one time the big one here in oregon.-weshar75
It was a great game! Completely, 100%, without a doubt jealous that you get to go to the game. Titans will be gunning for the Texans.
I'm on the season ticket wait list, #11,135 at the end of last season. Waiting to see how much I move up from those who did not renew. I should know soon. Need to win PB, MM, or Tx Lotto before I get to next in line. This PB should suffice.
You're so cute Pia.
Wow Pia, I looked at your link. I wouldn't know what to do with all that land. What would you do with 500 acres of land?
I don't think any state has a *right* to win, there is no entitlements or welfare with the lottery. It's just cold hard cash and numbers at play. By Wednesday's drawing, Californians will have spent about $350M on Powerball. That's good enough reason.
I'm glad california decided to join powerball, more money for the jackpot!
What would I do with 500 acres of land? Enjoy the peace and quiet, raise my animals and then some, set it up to go off grid if neccessary. Have some place to go to live life simpler.
Swim in a crystal clear creek, unpolluted by people.
Enjoy the miles of view without seeing rooftops.
Count the stars at night, rediscover the milky way.
Just enjoy the great outdoors. It's a beautiful world out there. Some would live the high life, others choose to be simpler. I'd travel in style and come home to simple. :)
Got ya beat, 2 tickets and a frozen Coke. ha! top that.
lol Will buy mine tomorrow at work in DC. I won't tell Thrifty about the frozen coke.
I feel like winning.
My posting was not meant to be taken serious JonD- after all no one has control which State player wins or loses.its a discussion co mingled with playful banter.
Wow Pia, I like the way you told that story and the photos bring it all to life. Texas is a wonderful state and I can see why you love it.
I don't live in the country but I see what you mean, Texas is a clean healthy way of life. Good on ya mate!!!
Please invite me to experience it after you acquire it!!!!