Saturday Powerball jackpot rewrites the record books with the largest lottery prize the world has ever seen
Jackpot of unthinkable size will almost certainly be even bigger by draw time
By Todd Northrop
It's been four years since the last lottery jackpot record was broken, but Wednesday night it finally happened again.
The old record of $656 million, set by the multi-state Mega Millions game in March 2012, was shattered Wednesday when nobody won Powerball's $524.1 million jackpot, and the initial jackpot estimate for Saturday was set to $675 million.
It's the largest lottery jackpot prize ever to be awarded in history.
The initial estimate for the lump-sum cash option for Saturday's Powerball drawing is $413.1 million. So the Mega Millions game still holds the world record cash value record of $471 million. However, seeing as the initial cash value in the Wednesday drawing was $61.2 million less than it's final tally at draw time, it is entirely possible — perhaps probable — that the cash value will also set the world record by the time the numbers are announced Saturday night.
The new world record Powerball jackpot is the result of 18 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The jackpot started as a $40 million prize on Nov. 7, 2015.
Players looking to calculate what they would receive after the initial federal and state tax withholdings can find it all pre-calculated for each Powerball jurisdiction on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
Doubtless, there will be a rush of media pundits clamoring to cite the tiny chance each player has of winning. There will probably be a thousand different analogies designed to explain how small the chances are. Maybe someone will compare it to the odds of getting stuck at the top of a roller coaster while at the same time being bit on the leg by an angry Pomeranian.
But no matter how hard they try to convince people to resist the urge to play, the pundits are up against a simple fact: there is enough money at stake to make even the most pessimistic person line up at the lottery ticket counter this week.
Are there some people who won't feel the need to play Powerball Saturday?
Maybe there are 15 such people, because although there were no jackpot winners on Wednesday night, 15 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 1 from Connecticut, 2 from Florida, 1 from Georgia, 2 from Louisiana, 1 from Massachusetts, 1 from Nebraska, 1 from New Mexico, 1 from New York, 1 from Oregon, 1 from Tennessee, 1 from Texas, and 1 from Washington.
Of all the second-prize winners, only the ticket sold in New Mexico was purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1. Because they purchased the Power Play, that particular ticket is now worth $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. 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.
171 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 24 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000.
The winning numbers drawn Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015, were 2, 11, 47, 62, and 63, with Powerball number 17. The Power Play number was 3.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $150.9 million from its previous amount of $524.1 million. The cash value was raised by $92.4 million from its previous amount of $320.7 million.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, any non-jackpot prize is multiplied by the Power Play number drawn that evening, although the second prize with Power Play is always doubled to $2 million.
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 Eastern Time drawing at USA Mega (8:59 pm Pacific Time). 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.
Players are advised not to wait until the last minute to buy their lottery tickets. Sales will remain open until around 10:45 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, although players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time.
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 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.
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.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States — and in the world. The amount of the jackpot may rise even further before the drawing Saturday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales will certainly push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Saturday... well, let's not even go there.
- Powerball: $675 million, Jan. 9, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $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
For those keeping score, 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. The new Powerball jackpot 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: $413.1 million cash, Jan. 9, 2016 ($675 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $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
Wow. This is it. A huge record jackpot that honestly feels like it came out of no-where.
It's already at 675MM and we still have 3 days to saturday.
Anyone want to venture a guess on saturday's jackpot?
Do we think 800-900MM range? Or even....the insane billion dollar mark?
So basically $800 million plus, Jesus Christ.
This one will hit the $$Billion Dollar mark for sure.
Wow...New record now huh... this will be fun ;)
Seriously.
In fact I feel it has a real chance to really go north of 900MM...think about it. This is now THE largest advertised jackpot in US (world) history. It's ALREADY at 675MM and we're only just starting thursday.
This will be ALL OVER the news 24/7 and will be on radio, TV, newspaper, online, everywhere.
The media and word of mouth will drive up hype and will get lot of people who don't regularly play lottery come out to get few tickets.
So with essentially 3 full days of ticket sales....we may very well be seeing a very real possibility at a 950+MM jackpot come saturday....or even....possibly cross the 1 billion mark!
Have mercy! I'll take a slice of that! I dont even need all of it! I will gladly share!
I do really like to see over a dozen tickets win something awesome! What a way to start the year!
whats the chance it will roll over on saturday? does anyone know?
That's it! I've caved. Never cared much for housework but I'll just have to go lift up those sofa cushions and see if there's enough coin for the purchase of a PowerBillionaire ticket. Rubber gloves, here we go. Wish me luck.
If no one wins Saturday's jackpot there will be massive heart attacks across the country! Hospitals will be swamped....ha.
Wow! !!! what a jackpot
Virtually 0% this will rollover again on saturday.
Essentially with the amount of ticket sales you can mathematically calculate how many possible combinations have been sold. With a 1 in 292million chance...I'm guessing that if you sell roughly 300million tickets...which is VERY possible....that you essentially will have 8-9/10 combinations bought and there will likely be MULTIPLE winners on saturday.
So basically there is no chance it will rollover again on saturday.....but if it does.....well......it's gonna be a brave new world then....
Surprise California or New York did not win. I think $968mil on Saturday. Spent $20 and won $12 when I multiplied with 17 ball number. Much success to all
I am guessing about 220-250 million tickets will be sold through saturday so there's a chance it will rollover, maybe a small chance but not highly unlikely
I'd imagine there would be ticket buyers from outside the US getting in on the action.
I need to get me some tickets and beat the rush.
A year ago I would have agreed with that statement, but with the combination of PB having a lower handle then MM cause of $2 bet and the now higher odds, I'd say there's a better chance for it rolling on then hitting the billion dollar mark on Sat.
I'm buying mine Thursday morning to avoid the lines. It took me about 40 minutes to get Wednesday's tickets, there were so many people in line buying.
Interesting that the jackpot is the highest ever at $675 million. $19 million more than the 2nd highest jackpot ever, $656 million in March 2012.
But the cash value, at $413 million is not the highest ever, it is in the #2 position.
The highest cash value was in March 2012 at $471 million, a $58 million difference.
The largest cash value from the $656 million jackpot in March 2012 was for a 25 year annuity. The current $675 million jackpot with a cash value of $413 million is for a 30 year annuity. The extra 5 years gives the cash value more time to grow with compound interest.
Really enjoying this. Feel for those border states like Primm, CA where the folks from Las Vegas come to play. They'll have that Lotto store on the news again i'm sure with those long lines. Too bad the casinos have such a stranglehold on Nevada residents by preventing a lottery there. Like I said before, you can buy lottery tickets in casinos in NJ, RI, the one in MA as well as CT. I know I've played lottery in all of them. Good luck to everyone! Now onto the Powerball website.
Forgot one state for casino lottery machines/agents: OH has one that I know of.
I wonder if we'll see 800 by Saturday?
It will definitely be at least $800M by Saturday. My guess is $850-$900M. It will definitely have Mega Millions record cash value beat.
"Dreams do come true"
I wonder how LP Members did? I have heard about some like MikeinTexas and weshar75 winning a bit. Who else has won a little bit?
DANG!!! $675 MIL!!! This is what lotto wet dreams are made of!!!!
And to think the jackpot coiuld be well over $800 mill by Saturday!!!! I can't even wrap my mind around if the jackpot isn't won Saturday!!!
...and you're lucky your state allows for anonymous winners.
Just bought mine, even used my OttoLball to pick one set of numbers.
I agree, it will jump up again and again, loving it.
This certainly is A astronomically large jackpot. I think it will roll at least another five times before someone hits it. I think this jackpot will easily go over a billion dollars.
That is very true, Every crazy, scam artist, criminal would have a big ol bulls eye on me and even my family if they knew I won the biggest jackpot in history.
It would be hard to enjoy my money in peace, when I have to constantly look over my shoulder.
Please consider purchasing Umbrella Insurance also called Excess liability insurance. Do not forget about some kidnap and ransom insurance. Personal security could be needed.
All these things and more that we do not think about now. Your life will change. Count on it.
America is a litigious society. Nuisance lawsuits may become common in your new life.
This is one of the reasons that the rich tend to live in gated communities and play at the same events. Plus they belong to country clubs so that they will rub shoulders with people like them.
Congratulations future lottery winner! Your name and other details will be spoken of in the future when the jackpots get close to another record amount.
The lottery knows folks get paid on Fridays lol let it roll over bigger profit
I can't even imagine what will happen if:
all I have to say for this!
Well everything is about to get crazy! Good luck to anyone playing.
A lot of people won a million+. Surprised it rolled. Big bullet dodged.
02-30-39-52-58 / 23
22-39-40-52-57 / 20
05-07-11-58-65 / 09
04-23-25-44-68 / 16
17-34-54-56-69 / 03
03-16-25-35-46 / 05
03-16-42-60-61 / 18
17-25-54-63-66 / 20
12-36-50-55-68 / 16
16-20-34-52-55 / 08
20-28-35-48-55 / 17
01-22-23-62-67 / 04
01-08-12-38-60 / 17
04-14-28-33-55 / 06
01-19-34-46-47 / 19
03-22-24-42-53 / 17
32-41-44-52-61 / 18
14-27-38-49-62 / 03
39-41-56-62-66 / 03
02-18-32-47-64 / 01
04-22-35-39-57 / 15
03-05-11-17-24 / 17
01-06-35-58-59 / 17
07-17-21-26-47 / 01
01-17-18-21-23 / 18
08-16-23-35-51 / 26
11-34-50-52-60 / 19
15-24-27-40-62 / 13
08-31-35-37-69 / 05
01-02-07-27-61 / 25
09-37-45-46-49 / 04
27-47-50-57-58 / 20
10-18-23-26-58 / 09
31-33-51-53-59 / 21
25-27-41-48-54 / 15
16-20-28-59-63 / 13
12-22-27-45-69 / 08
03-16-23-24-49 / 22
11-33-59-60-63 / 23
07-15-29-57-61 / 03
34-51-52-64-69 / 24
37-42-49-52-62 / 13
27-30-37-56-63 / 10
03-12-26-27-51 / 13
17-25-31-49-51 / 03
01-08-29-31-48 / 23
07-31-43-60-65 / 25
15-19-23-50-64 / 09
15-19-46-52-58 / 07
13-20-25-33-42 / 16
In previous, related threads, I've harped about MUSL estimates sometimes falling short; not honoring the advertised jackpot amount.
However, in this instance, it's near certain all MUSL estimates will be lower than actual. As others have already said, $800 million annuity is looking realistic.
Not sure about $1 billion though. Could happen, but likely the jackpot is going to fall a bit short unless many casual players wager far heavier than they have in past "record" PB runs. Ie. instead of buying one or two tickets, buying 5-10 tickets. At $20 average wager per player, $1 billion annuity is very possible.
And while highly unlikely, there's a slim chance of the jackpot rolling again. If that happens, the sky is the limit. It will be pure pandemonium. May be worthwhile to play ahead a couple of drawings just in case.
I'm with Ron. I think the JP will be hit this go-around. That billion dollar jackpot will probably remain very elusive. G5
Anyone else want a single winner because i definitely want to see one. That is if its not my single ticket someone else's ticket. i want another gloria type winner. Dont need split or caps or any other b.s the whinners cry about. Dont like it dont play it. Thats what second place is for have that million.
Is there such a thing as a jackpot cap???
I could see this rolling to 4,5,6 billion who knows, even more. As I've said before it will NOT be won until EVERY possible number combo is purchased.
Oh let's hope high numbers are drawn. If birthday numbers come up, the jackpot will be split about 500 ways LOL.
And, Here, We, GO!
Does anyone know what percentage of combinations were covered in last night's PB drawing?
You are so right. Last week I was reading a news piece about what to do and not do if you win. You know, the same pieces that are run every time the JP gets high.
Anyway, in the comments section was someone posing as Marie Holmes. They were doing it via a fake facebook profile using a photo of Marie with the jumbo check and telling people she won because of her spiritual guide and if they wanted to win this jackpot, to contact that guide for a reading.
You better believe that the conmen will be coming hard and fast on whoever wins this. It's one thing for them to try and scam jackpot winners, but using someone's identity to scam others...? Way worse in my opinion.
Canada and also i want to say a couple other countries also have lottery caps and the money rolls over to next jackpot.
And if they start above 31 then good chance it will roll.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
Powerball jackpots have been hit with only 5% of combinations covered.
Won 4 bucks on a PB match again, so I will be in on this one for saturday draw maybe 4 bucks or maybe more. Only thing that bugs me is that the media feeding frenzy will be paying attention more closely to who wins.
I think about 45%
it'll be worth more in a matter of days and the value of the united states dollar continue to rise so ITS WORTH A LOT
I'm gonna be honest here, I'm thisclose to e-mail one of these "spelltemple" kind of people that comment on every lottery article.
If you assume that roughly the same amount of people will wager the same amount they did when shooting for Wednesday night's jackpot then the jackpot for Saturday will be easily $700M.
Now we all know that MORE people will wager either the same amount or a bit more if not a lot more. So that says that the jackpot for Saturday will be even larger than $700M but just how much larger is yet to be seen. I'll go conservative and say it climbs to at least $725M. Many are saying or hoping it gets to $800M but that would involve quite a bit more people out there buying tickets expecting the jackpot to hit. The reality is that the higher the jackpot goes it's because they've sold more tickets so the higher the chances of it being hit.
Getting to a Billion I think would involve at least one more rollover and just for the hell of it I'd love to see that kind of a jackpot.
I couldn't help but notice somebody saying that it could go to 4,5,6 billion....yeah that is soooo nearly impossible.
Another comment I saw that totally makes sense is that other people in other countries must be calling their friends in the USA and asking them to buy tickets on their behalf. Heck I would bet people in states that don't have the lottery probably are doing the same thing. Lastly, I think the whole world will be watching this potentially historic lottery drawing and surely will make the news all around the world when someone hits it.
Anybody know the record number of winners with 5 numbers and no powerball?
Haven't a clue.......
"Buy Me A Boat"
Working like a dog all day, ain’t working for me
I wish I had a rich uncle that’d kick the bucket
And that I was sitting on a pile like Warren Buffett
I know everybody says
Money can’t buy happiness
But it could buy me a boat, it could buy me a truck to pull it
It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced down with some silver bullets
Yeah, and I know what they say,
Money can’t buy everything
Well, maybe so,
But it could buy me a boat
They call me redneck, white trash and blue collar
But I could change all that if I had a couple million dollars
I keep hearing that money is the root of all evil
And you can’t fit a camel through the eye of a needle
I’m sure that’s probably true,
But it still sounds pretty cool
‘Cause it could buy me a boat, it could buy me a truck to pull it
It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced down with some silver bullets
Yeah, and I know what they say,
Money can’t buy everything
Well, maybe so,
But it could buy me a boat
To float down on the water with a beer…
I hear the Powerball Lotto is a-sitting’ on a hundred mill…
Well, that would buy me a brand new rod and reel…
And it could buy me a boat, it could buy me a truck to pull it
It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced down with some Silver Bullets
Yeah, and I know what they say,
Money can’t buy everything
Well, maybe so,
But it could buy me a boat
Yeah, and I know what they say,
Money can’t buy everything
Well, maybe so,
But it could buy me a boat
It could buy me a boat.
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/112702
Fortune cookie bet made Powerball lottery players rich
May 11, 2005, 11:23 am
Powerball lottery officials suspected fraud: how could 110 players in the March 30 drawing get five of the six numbers right? That made them all second-prize winners, and considering the number of tickets sold in the 29 states where the game is played, there should have been only four or five.
Many different brands of fortune cookies come from Wonton Food's Long Island City factory.
But from state after state they kept coming in, the one-in-three-million combination of 22, 28, 32, 33, 39.
Won nothing on the 9 tickets I did buy. Someone in CA did win the second prize which was around 1,400 bucks. Amazingly, I believe it had been around $400k before last night and usually goes up about 200k a draw. So, they must have sold a heck of a lot of tickets.
I admit I have pooh-poohed! -- yes, pooh-poohed!, the ones claiming it could hit a billion. In 4 days it went up from 400 mil to 675 mil. But, there were 4 days of ticket sales. Can they match it in 3 days which would be at least 950 mil or more?????
With the media frenzy that's ensuing and people doing weekend shopping runs I could see it.
The author really needs to check the facts. $675 million is nowhere near being a 'world record'. Spain's El Gordo lottery regularly has jackpots that are in the billions. In 2012 there was a $3.3 billion dollar jackpot.
El Gordo is not a lottery, it is a raffle, and it does NOT have a jackpot. It has a big prize pool, but NOT a jackpot. The top prize that anyone can win is a few million Euro.
Any writer who claims that El Gordo has the world's biggest lottery jackpot is wrong. It is common for reporters in the mainstream news media to be ignorant about lotteries, and throw around terms like "jackpot" interchangeably.
To be clear: a jackpot is an ever-increasing prize pool (until it is won) that can be won by one person, or split by a couple or few people.
You can think of El Gordo as an expensive scratch-off game. An expensive scratch-off game can award hundreds of millions of dollars, but never to one person. The "hundreds of millions of dollars" is just the total prize pool in the game, not a jackpot. Just like El Gordo.
I hope this helps.
It's said that a lot of people always play 1 2 3 4 5.......... make 6 the Powerball and this would be quite an interesting hit if it comes in.