$314 million jackpot puts Powerball back in spotlight

Apr 28, 2016, 10:14 am (59 comments)

Powerball

By Todd Northrop

Big lottery jackpot hunters will have a jumbo-sized target this weekend, as the multi-state Powerball jackpot has crossed the $300 million mark.

In fact, the lump-sum cash value of Saturday's $314 million Powerball jackpot is the 17th-largest of all time: $202.9 million. The complete top-25 list of United States lottery jackpot cash values can be found at the end of this article.

Saturday's Powerball jackpot is the biggest US lottery jackpot since the world went bonkers for the world record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot in January.  That jackpot was won by three tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee.  The California winner has not yet claimed their share.

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.

Saturday's grand prize is the result of 16 consecutive draws without a winner.  The run-up started as a $40 million prize on March 5.

The winning numbers for Wednesday, April 27, 2016 were 2, 25, 33, 39, and 64, with Powerball number 17.  The Power Play number was 2.

Although nobody won the jackpot Wednesday night, one ticket from Texas matched the first five numbers for a $1,000,000 prize. The Texas winning ticket was not purchased with the Power Play option.  If they had, their prize would have been automatically doubled to $2,000,000.

21 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000.  Of those tickets, 4 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $100,000, and 3 were purchased in California where the prize was $22,222 this drawing.

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.

Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $32 million from its previous amount of $282 million. The cash value was raised by $20.9 million from its previous amount of $183.8 million.

The next Powerball drawing will take place Saturday day night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.

When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, the second prize amount doubles to $2,000,000, and all other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Power Play number randomly drawn that evening.

A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers 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 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 cash value jackpots

Saturday's Powerball jackpot has the 17th-largest lump-sum cash value of any lottery jackpot in US lottery history. The list of the top 25 jackpot cash values can be found below, along with the state(s) in which each jackpot was won.

  1. Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  3. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
  4. Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  5. Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
  6. Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
  7. Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  8. Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
  9. Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
  10. Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
  11. Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
  12. Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
  13. Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
  14. Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
  15. Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
  16. Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
  17. Powerball: $204.7 million cash, Apr. 30, 2016 ($314 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, no winner yet
  18. Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
  19. Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
  20. Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
  21. Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
  22. Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
  23. Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
  24. The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
  25. Mega Millions: $177.3 million cash, Jan. 16, 2015 ($270 million annuity) - Illinois

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Very nice target!

Cool I'm headed to the store to play!

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

 

good luck to those playing Lep

sneaks off to get my ticket/s

Groppo's avatarGroppo

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Apr 28, 2016

Very nice target!

Cool I'm headed to the store to play!

Yes, Mr./Ms. Dpoly1.
You, me, and about 284 million other folks
(estimate based on 'not much').
At the very least, I wish you 2nd prize (1 million samolians), as that is all I ever hope to win for myself.

All I want is a modest house, a RAM pickup truck, and possibly a Fatboy S.

Groppo's avatarGroppo

Quote: Originally posted by hearsetrax on Apr 28, 2016

 

good luck to those playing Lep

sneaks off to get my ticket/s

Good luck to you too, Mr./Ms. Hearsetrax.

music*'s avatarmusic*

 Andrew Jackson "Jack" Whitaker is no longer on this list. He lives in West Virginia. 

 I hope that all lottery winners have learned the lessons he has taught us.

 Do not get your psychological therapy at the Pink Pony.

 Be careful and guarded about giving minors money. 

 Jack was hated in his community. Envy and jealousy raised their ugly faces.

 Expect almost everyone will ask you for a gift, loan, investments.

 Jack turned in his ticket the next business day. Wait while you get your head screwed on correctly.

 He did leave us some quotes, "Do not give any money away. They will continue to come after you until there is none left". And even after that, they will think that you are lying about being broke.

 Your family and friends maybe your worst enemies. They just don't understand.

Groppo's avatarGroppo

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Apr 28, 2016

 Andrew Jackson "Jack" Whitaker is no longer on this list. He lives in West Virginia. 

 I hope that all lottery winners have learned the lessons he has taught us.

 Do not get your psychological therapy at the Pink Pony.

 Be careful and guarded about giving minors money. 

 Jack was hated in his community. Envy and jealousy raised their ugly faces.

 Expect almost everyone will ask you for a gift, loan, investments.

 Jack turned in his ticket the next business day. Wait while you get your head screwed on correctly.

 He did leave us some quotes, "Do not give any money away. They will continue to come after you until there is none left". And even after that, they will think that you are lying about being broke.

 Your family and friends maybe your worst enemies. They just don't understand.

Mr. Music*,

You've changed your icon.

And, I agree with your post.

But, I for one, have repeatedly mentioned about my desire to win the 2nd prize, as my needs/wants are relatively modest.

 

Mr. Groppo

Albeone

Looks like we're about to catch the fever. I want to take a ride to that billion dollar jackpot again and win it this time.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Groppo on Apr 28, 2016

Mr. Music*,

You've changed your icon.

And, I agree with your post.

But, I for one, have repeatedly mentioned about my desire to win the 2nd prize, as my needs/wants are relatively modest.

 

Mr. Groppo

 Yes, I take advantage of the icons that Todd provides. Thank You.

 I aim for the bulls eye. Like in darts. 

 If you are between the ages of 18 - 40 you should consider the 30-year Annuity. Especially when the jackpot sets records. Alas, it is the Lump Sum for me.

  Mr. Groppo, I hope that the Irish fairy of good luck sprinkles her dust upon you and your numbers.

noise-gate

l am not willing to fall on my sword with this comment- but l think California will win this jackpot.However all the best to those who purchase a ticket. That's all you need.

Illinoisdreamer

Saturday , April 30th would be a good day for me to become a very rich man ,,, Come on PB

I already have my two lines ,, When it gets to this range I am tempted to possibly buy a few more lines

Deo-nonfortuna

I'm whistling zippity doo dah with my )(. Who cares how much the jackpot is, 99.9999999999 % of us will never win the jackpot.

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

I won $8 on two tickets the other day, so I cashed them in today and bought my next draws tickets.

1- Cash 4 Life $2 (loser)

1- Mega w/ Megaplier $2

1- Powerball w/ Powerplay $3

1- NY Lotto (2 games for a buck)

I don't usually get the multiplier, but something said get it this time.

I'm in it! Now all I need to do is win it!Lep   DanceSee Ya!White BounceGuitarCheers

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Quote: Originally posted by Albeone on Apr 28, 2016

Looks like we're about to catch the fever. I want to take a ride to that billion dollar jackpot again and win it this time.

We all want to win it or at least a sizable piece of it.

I wouldn't mind sharing if my piece was big enough! Party 

PrisonerSix

I got my tickets today out of a vending machine at Albertson's. That's not where I normally get them, but maybe a different place will yield better results.

Subscribe to this news story