Become a half-billionaire!
By Todd Northrop
For the second time in the last 24 hours, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) has raised the official Powerball lottery jackpot estimate for Wednesday's drawing when sales for the mega jackpot have vastly outstripped projections.
The all-important lump-sum cash value of the jackpot has been raised to a staggering $306 million.
The newly-increased annuity and cash value jackpot amounts both remain the 6th-largest ever recorded in United States lottery history. The top-25 annuity and cash value jackpots are listed below.
The Powerball drawing will be contacted Wednesday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time (7:59 pm Pacific). The mammoth grand prize started at $40 million on Nov. 7, 2015, and is the result of 17 drawings with no jackpot winner.
After the Saturday evening Powerball drawing, when it was determined that there were no jackpot winners, the new jackpot estimate for Wednesday was set at $400 million, with a cash value of $244.8 million. On Tuesday the lotteries raised the jackpot estimate to $450 million when it became clear that sales were outpacing expectations. And now just a day later the lotteries have once again adjusted the jackpot skyward to $500 million.
By the time the drawing occurs tonight, the jackpot may be even further increased. The final jackpot tally will be announced during the live drawing show.
Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Wednesday night are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com). State lottery Web sites are normally brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.
Powerball drawing results will be posted immediately after the 10:59 pm drawing at USA Mega. The number of winners and new jackpot will be announced after all participating Powerball states have reported their data, which normally occurs within a couple of hours after the drawing.
Tickets will remain on sale typically until 10:45 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, although players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time. Players are advised not to wait until the last minute.
The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million. The odds of winning any of the Powerball prizes are approximately 1 in 25.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each.
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Powerball jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Powerball features nine different prize levels, ranging from $4 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Powerball number.
All states except California also offer the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket purchased. The Power Play multiplies any non-jackpot prizes won by the Power Play number drawn that evening.
Players who purchase the Power Play and win second prize will automatically have their prize increased by 2x to $2 million.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot currently stands tied for the 6th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise again before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $500 million, Jan. 6, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- 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: $326 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 25, 2002 - West Virginia
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 10
- 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 6th-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: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $306 million cash, Jan. 6, 2016 ($500 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- 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: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($326 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
- 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
- Mega Millions: $177.3 million cash, Jan. 16, 2015 ($270 million annuity) - Illinois
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Powerball: $170.5 million cash, Dec. 25, 2002 ($314.9 million annuity) - West Virginia
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 11
- The Big Game: 1
I am not ashamed to admit, I am a little bit scared,"What if I really do win this by myself?". My life will have to change and I will experience culture shock. Going from poor to the uber elite. The one percent life. How much security will my family and I need?
Thankfully here in California, I will be able to decline the press interview and the grip & grin photo.
wow i didnt expect my wish on 450m pot , to keep on rolling, to be answered so soon,... keep on rollin baby
Got my tickets for tonight's drawing.
I agree Music, that is a scary amount to win. For some reason I dont think it will be won tonite but I do have two tickets just in case
..... Let the insomnia begin!
Good Luck everyone!
PB has been on the national news before the jump to $500 million so it may be raised again before the drawing tonite?
Like many people I was not expecting another $50 million increase.
I would be curious to know how much the jackpot will be for Saturday's drawing if no one wins tonight?
Anybody have any idea?
If it is not won tonight it will be up to $725 Million is my guess for Sat...
My guess is 800. I hope it rolls so we can see who's right.
As much as I want to win it and want other people to win it I also want to see it shatter any and all records.
My guess is $755,000,000 on saturday, provided no one wins
If there is a roll over tonight, we could easy see a billion dollars jackpot.
If its not won tonight it will hit 1 billion for next Saturday's draw will all the press attention.
I don't want to see any "glee" posts either from the people that were against the odds moving from 1 in 175 million up to 1 in 192 million. You can't have it both ways. Since moving the odds up was such a rip off according to so many of the posters back when they instituted the change stay consistent and don't buy a ticket now.
As for me i was for an even bigger increase in the odds to 1 in 400 million which i think mega millions will have to do when powerball grabs the first billion pot.
At 1 in 400 million odds you could have 2 jackpot winners a year for about 4 billion a pot.
All we need now is for at least 4 of the 5 white balls #32 or higher to cancel out the "birthday crowd" and we might just get to the that billion pot next Saturday. 5 of 5 big numbers give us a great shot at it.
aught!
Today's the dream day for all JACKPOT ticket buyers BUT, there is always BUTT out there somewhere and that
was Tuesday 1/5/2016 when we were chasing another DREAM and another BIG jackpot. Yes, Psyko was out
there swimming upstream with the many other FISH to promise LAND of MONEY and HONEY'$ and good TIMES!
NO, no one made the swim successfully and all were eaten by the BIG BAD BEARS with the exception of a few
who won low tier prizes again and again and did Psyko say again! Yes, I got a few more 1+1, 2+0, and 2+1 &
ALOTTO 0+0's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LUCK what is IT, think about it NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN NOW"
A rollover to set records. Great idea. If I do not win.
It doesn't need to rollover.... A half billion is perfectly fine with me. Lol!!Heck I'd be pleased with a second place prize of a cool mill too :-).
Good luck everyone!!! I hope someone from LP wins this thing!!! :-)