Powerball making another run at the record?
By Todd Northrop
This week Powerball will be the hot ticket, featuring a jackpot that will tempt a lot of people to take a chance at unimaginable wealth.
The new high-water mark of $348 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $314 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $226.1 million — the 12th-largest ever recorded in United States lottery history. (See top 25 annuity and cash values below.)
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.
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot will be the biggest lottery jackpot since the world witnessed the first billion-dollar jackpot that could potentially award all that money to a single person. As is turned out, the world-record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot on January 13th was won by three tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee. The California winner has not yet claimed their share.
The mammoth prize up for grabs on Wednesday is the result of 17 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on March 5.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
The winning numbers for Saturday, April 30, 2016, were 3, 12, 16, 32, and 34, with Powerball number 14. The Power Play number was 3.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California and 2 from New York.
The California second-prize winner will be awarded $1,273,656, 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.
None of the second-prize winners purchased the Power Play option, which would have automatically doubled their payout to $2,000,000. Power Play is available in all Powerball jurisdictions except California for an extra $1 per play. The fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's mandated pari-mutuel payouts.
34 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 6 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000, and 4 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $20,633 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $34 million from its previous amount of $314 million. The cash value was raised by $21.4 million from its previous amount of $204.7 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, 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 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 15th-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.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 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: $348 million, May 4, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, no winner yet
- 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: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
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 12th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- 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 ($636 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: $226.1 million cash, May 4, 2016 ($348 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, no winner yet
- 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 ($321 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
- Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
- 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
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 11
- The Big Game: 1
I would be happy with a cool million or second place prize this wednesday night.-weshar75
Let it be known....i am winning this next jackpot.
I am playing to win
That's the exact mentality I've been subscribed to, for a while.
And that goes for either lotto, MM or PB.
But when will it be my turn?
Doggonit!
I'll take a +/- $135,000,000 after-tax bump in my bank account!
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner,
Yes, we are all playing to win something. But fine, if you win the jackpot, I still wish only to win prize 2.
I can't hope for less than that, because 5K won't buy me any:
Players, Keep on dreaming and make sure that you are awake when your ship sails into your harbor. Pinch yourself.
OK..SO THE ROLL-A-COASTER IS STARTING .I DO UNDERSTAND IT'S A LITTLE EARLY BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BREAK THE OLD 1.6 BILLION DOLLAR JACKPOT.
I still say:
"I'd be very much happy with enough to pay my long overdue Hospital bills and buy a few things and for
that, it wouldn't take more then a couple of million for me"
(paws crossed)
I understand the argument for the lump sum but I'd choose ANNUITY all the way! $3,928,425 + per year (first payment) after taxes in Washington state. That's enough for living large while getting the financial education, saving you the stress and worry of being taken to the cleaners by some smart Alec lawyer or investor, if the lump sum is chosen. A price has to be paid for security. The heirs can claim whatever is left to claim after I die. 4 million dallas is more than enough to live a good life. </ here I wake up lol>
I agree with you weshar75. It would be nice to win a cool million.
I can understand your reasoning. I feel its a sound way to look at it. after all most people say thay would be happy with just a few mill here. you get 1 year to practice, living on the income from just 3.9 mill, ok maybe a part of the capital also.maybe after the 1st year you have 1 mill left over! spent 2.9 mill. well done. you prob made a few mistakes, have a reasonable house, a nice car. next year you prob dont need to spend $2.9 mill. by the time you get to year 5 you will prob have the hang of things and 20 mill in the bank!
I agree on taking the annuity, but don't forget that the initial with-holding won't cover all your taxes. There's the remaining almost 15% you'll probably still owe.
After full federal and state taxes, I'd be looking at 2.9 mil the first year. And spending a good chunk of that on a really nice house. The vacation condo in Hawaii might have to wait until year 2.
thars been many countless and pointless debates about lump sum vs taking the given annuity
its also been disgused to virtual death, one could always buy a better annuity then the ones currently offered
of all the stories of failure we've seen not to mention the albeit rare story of those that took thar winning and proven themselves to be that much better at handling thar money
few have taken the lessons taught to heart
and with the comming presidential election comming up in a bit over 6 months ,thar will be no doubt more to pay in taxes in the comming years
Not too bad.
It would be about a 118 mil bump for me.
I live in NYC, so it's fed, state and city taxes for me!
I won $3 last night on Lotto, which I've put into an additional Powerball ticket.
This morning I went to my normal place to cash it and get tickets, but their machine was down, so I went to another place and their's was working. I got my winning Lotto at a place I don't normally buy them(vending machine in a supermarket), so who knows what will happen this time?
good luck with the PB
Hello Lottery Posters,
It's time again for another round of (Price is Right) Powerball results.
Take a guess at final results for next drawing of annuity prize (won or rollover) without going over and see who gets closest.
Technut $360M
Savagegoose $359M
golfer1960 $352M
ArizonaDream $40M
** Winner for Sat April 30th Round is $348M = ArizonaDream with $40M or ($1 bid). congrats ArizonaDream.**
Round II
Technut $385M
But what I can't grasp is why anyone actually feels the money would be safer from scammers in annuity form. It's almost as if they think that money not yet disbursed is in some kind of magical vault where liens, suits, scams and indebtedness don't apply. The tragedy and the irony is that those are the people who usually end up selling off their future annuity payments and filing for bankruptcy simply because they don't understand how things work.
Valid statement about being taken to the cleaners by a smart alec lawyer or investor.....that is a very real possibility and a fear of mine.
My guess is $392M. What will i win Technut? Huh?
I'll say 387 mil. this time.
If the Mega Millions jackpot is won Powerball will really take off. I volunteer as tribute!
Next PB jackpot will be $390 mil...that is if I don't win it on Wednesday
Lovin' it...no doubt it would jump to $400 million. Why not?
Mr./Ms. Bluedog101,
Please help me understand. Several of you, here, are hoping for an even higher jackpot.
I just wish someone would win it NOW (meaning: on the next draw).
Some are even hoping for the big $Billy to roll around again.
What's the purpose of hoping for an even larger jackpot?
I need my one mil. now, and I'll be set. I'll even stop coming here.
Please, someone just win it, this Wednesday.
Be careful when choosing your numbers if you are a new player, and you use the slips.
Think hard about the numbers you plan to play. I seem to be getting visions about the
number 3 popping up on Wednesday, like 3 or 13 or 30 throughout the winning ticket.
Mr. Groppo
Me too, second time using the new on-line ticket purchase from the Kentucky Lottery! Great idea.