3rd-largest US jackpot ever; 3rd-largest cash value ever
By Todd Northrop
There are going to be a lot of lottery tickets sold this week.
For only the 4th time in the history of United States lotteries, a lottery jackpot has grown to more than $600 million.
The new high-water mark of $650 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $541.9 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $411.7 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.
There is only one Powerball jackpot that has ever grown larger than this one: The record $1.6 billion grand prize drawing on January 13, 2016, when three tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee split the winnings. The Florida and Tennessee winners claimed their prizes quickly, but the California winner waited about six months to claim their share.
The Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million, currently standing in second place on the all-time list, was won in March of 2012, split by three tickets sold in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. And in this case we're expecting the jackpot to grow a lot more by draw time.
In the drawing before the record $1.6 billion jackpot was hit, the initial estimate of $675 million was raised not once, not twice, but three times before finally reaching $949.8 Million by draw time.
Wednesday's mammoth jackpot is the result of 20 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on June 14.
The winning numbers for Saturday, August 19, 2017 were 17, 19, 39, 43, and 68, with Powerball number 13. The Power Play number was 4.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 10 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 2 from Florida, 2 from Missouri, 1 from New Jersey, 1 from North Carolina, 1 from Pennsylvania, 1 from South Carolina, and 1 from Tennessee.
The California second-prize winner will receive $1,095,207, due to that state's law that requires all lottery payouts to be calculated with a pari-mutuel formula, 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. If more than one ticket in California had won second prize, the winners would have split that amount equally.
Only two of the second-prize winners purchased the Power Play option — the tickets sold in South Carolina and Tennessee. Because those tickets were purchased with the Power Play option their second-prize wins are automatically 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.
116 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 17 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $200,000, and 18 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $15,576 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $108.1 million from its previous amount of $541.9 million. The cash value was raised by $68.5 million from its previous amount of $343.2 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 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 3rd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, and the 2nd-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Brisk sales will likely push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Wednesday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $650 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
- 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
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 7
- The Big Game: 1
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 3rd-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: $411.7 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($650 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
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- 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: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- 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
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
I hope it get raised 3 times by Wednesday but if I'm not mistaken I think the Saturday draw generates more sales.
Meaning if it does roll it could break the record.
.
Well, I'd like to see someone win the doggone thing on Wednesday.
And generate at least 1000 (one thousand) 2nd place winners.
$650 million sounds good to me.
Nice!
Good luck to all players!!!
Good Golly, Miss Molly! All those zeros are making me dizzy! Am I developing vertigo?
daddy needs a new unimog & a place to get away from it all
Lying in bed 1/2 hour ago. Dialed KY lottery and listened to #'s, said they don't said very promising. They did not have the next PB jackpot so I knew it rolled over and thought to myself $650 million. Now if I could just predict six little numbers.
I AGREE SURE WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD HAVE THE CORRECT #'S ON ONE ROW...
By Wednesday It will be MUCH MORE THEN $650MILLION!
A $120 million dollar jump from last night's drawing!It jumped from the 8th largest to the 3rd largest in U.S History the moment nobody hit!!
If 2016 is a clue, it rolled to $675 m and on the same day went up to $700 m and the next day $800 m and the following day $900 million plus.
Trends and Patterns repeat !!!
Keep your eyes open for glitters !!!!!!!!!
Have hopes
I hope the Powerball jackpot continues to roll until one lucky ticket hits the grand prize of over $1.6 Billion dollars!
They call me RED neck, WHITE trash and BLUE collar! I could change all that if I had $650M dollars!!!!!
"Excuse me Mr. Golfer but you have been upgraded from $535M to $650M!!!!!!! Please enjoy the rest of your life in FIRST CLASS."
GOLFER: "YES MA'AM!!!!!!!
comment on having only one number on your ticket like me???
NOW......
...and THEN!!!
"Mr. Golfer, can I get you some Leggs, excuse me I meant to say "EGGS for breakfast?"
GOLFER: "YES MA'AM, I'D LIKE IT ALL!!!!"
The $535 million annuity estimate verses actual $541.9 million didn't leave much margin for error; nearly came up short. PB sales seemed slow at the various retailers I regularly play at. For once it's nice to see a California Match-5 winner receive a full $1 million and then some. Talk about being lucky.
Another thing to consider is the annuity value verses actual cash value:
The multiplier is currently a bit less than in #1 meaning it will take more sales to match the same all time record. However, the multiplier is much higher than it was back in 2012 when it took $55 million more cash ($467 million verses $411.7 million) to reach an equivalent $650 million annuity value.
Anyways, it's likely it will take two more rolls to break the $1 billion annuity level. Then it gets crazy like last time. Such as players wagering $500, $5000, etc all on Powerball. Not sure how much the player who was reported to wagering $5000 won back, but would guess it was around $500 or so tops. That's a huge loss, but then again, one has to be in it to win it. I'm skipping this one, unless I hit a Pick-X number in the meantime. If it rolls again to Saturday, then yeah I'm in.
I just hope someone that's young enough to take the annuity wins. That would be like being Tom Brady or A-Rod for the rest of your life. Their favorite book would be, "How To See Europe On Less Than $16,134 A Day"....and that's after federal tax and then there's the 5% cost-of-living increase every year!
<<< (one for each ticket I'm gonna buy- don't wanna get too delusional)
I kind of like the little house and imagine fixing it up. Lol
Power Ball was very close to being won Saturday night, 8/19/2017 With these expected jumps in prize amounts between today and Wednesday 8/23/2017 I believe that it will be won on Wednesday night. But, Do not count Power Ball out too soon. PB might surprise us again.
I think, Groppo, tht dozens all over should be winning a piece of this. Even @ 1 million each to be shared with hundreds of people.That is what shoud be happening.
My dad keep saying even this morning at breakfast, Cassie! You got 2 #s and the PB and Powerball but, he didn't even get 1 and he play all the time for 3 decades this and MM but stopped only this year saying it's a racket lol it's not a legitimate game or more would win, when it reach let's say over 50- million to 100 million.
Thousands of 2nd place= 50,000 (this i definitely agree with)this part should be happening.
and more than "1" or 2 or 3 players win when its this large. I also agree on this part the more i think about this.
You can get 100 winners heck, even 50 when its so so large @ feasibly a million to five million each or close to it,and STILL the GOV are getting their huge cut back ... So, i think my dad is right on many points. He said,"If more bemoan over it that the lottery will definitely allow it to happen,or if they stop playing then Lottery will allow more to win.(When its this super duper high.)
ha ha i love the 2nd home very much.
GL Wednes.Golfer. and i would keep the 1st one and fix it up,sell it and or rent it to make a lil profit extra.$
Can never have enough cash.
Thank you Ms. Cassie and good luck to you on Wednesday! Have a profitable day!!!!
Hi Artist, Fix it up like Chip and Joanna Gaines down in Waco, TX!
Lol. That is the only design show I dislike. Managed to get through 1.5 episodes. Her design skills are terrible. I like recycled or repurposed items but it looks like a Mish mash when she does it.
That house would be just perfect as a shabby front.
Add a huge underground complez with enormous garage etc and no one would no you were rich.
Good idea!
Have to imagine it will hit $800M by the time the drawing goes off.
Here we go 2 billion.
If it is not hit on Wednesday, we are definitely looking at another BILLION DOLLAR JACKPOT. Or the RECORD BREAKER!
I Will Contribute $2 To The Powerball Lottery Game Jackpots To Make The Winners Dreams Come To Reality.
The Powerball Lottery Game Odds Of Winning Do Not Support 1000 2nd Place Winners.
THANKS. Every little bit counts. Looking forward to picking up my big check at LOTTO HQ.
$2 Allows You To Time Travel, And Win The Powerball Lottery Game Jackpot.
You Have To Give To Receive.
Do not be surprised, lottery players spend $70 Billion dollars per year on USA lottery games.
Billions Of People Are Asking The Universe The Same Thing, I Wonder What Is Your Place In Line?
Playing The Lottery To Win?
Wow, I agree that she goes over board with the old ruffed up items she puts in the house. I wouldn't want the worn out look mixed with the new design.
You Are Dreaming On Higher Powerball Lottery Game Jackpots, And You Are Feeling Great?
Wow big buck, I never thought of that. Brilliant idea!
The first house is the one you keep and have as your primary residence so no one knows you have any money and don't ask you for any money. Fix it up and it will be just fine. Keep your big houses and vehicles elsewhere. LOL
Yeah, not a fan of their show either, don't have anything against them but I don't find them to be particularly talented. My aunt watches their show but I just don't see the appeal.
WARREN BUFFETT AND BILL GATES Do Not Play The Lottery, AND THEY ARE BILLIONAIRES.
All will be revealed..
Thrifty, I have no idea but....
Maybe it's true what they say about it ("it's fixed")
Maybe we can't make the ends meet ("you'll never win")
Maybe we'll all have to do without it (that's probable)
Maybe this world's just incomplete (i feel that way sometimes)
Still we all look for the truth in our lives
Searching from different sides
So hard living in a desperate world
But we all do the best that we can
Some people see a change
Some will remain the same
But all of them live their lives under the gun
Some see the road as clear
Some say the end is here
They say it's a hopeless fight, well I say I gotta try
I gotta try THRIFTY....$650M!!!!
How about you? Are you gonna play?
They have nothing to prove and they have plenty of moolah. Winning the lottery won't affect their bankroll by much. The average Joes like us, though....winning the lottery is one of the most "likely" ways we have of earning generational wealth. It may not be the best, but it may be the best we have.
Just feeling hopeful and enjoying the experience. You enjoying this Thrifty?
Great idea Venom!!!!
I am Not Playing The Lottery. Good Luck.
That's because Buffet and Gates are very smart people. I am not smart henceforth, i play the lottery!!!
How can you give as a gift?
Where did you get that information? Or are you making up your own facts?
Now thrifster...I have seen you post tickets in the past and you buy a lot of tickets. Lol
I agree!
Where are these places at?
Well said Soviet.
I hate to ruin all your Lotto dreams. But this Big Lotto belongs to me Joe Big Lotto. So I recommend you all don't even bother playing but rather spend your money at Burger King. If I win I upgrade you all to McDonald's. Have got this under control and my girlfriend is waiting to marry me after I win lol
Gift as in what? A lottery ticket or giving away some money to individuals? The IRS lets you give so much away, you have to go to their website to see the amount you can give per annum.
"....and my girlfriend is waiting to marry me after I win lol " OH NO!!! Run-Joe-Run
JOE, JOE, JOE!!!!! THIS IS WHAT I WANT!!!!! CAN I HAVE THIS JOE????
It's the new BBQ Bacon Whopper with Sweet Onions!!!
Good Luck Big Joe!!!!
Joe, my girlfriend won't marry me unless I win the lottery too. It's not like she has a lot of choices or offers. The nerve of her. At least she's not afraid of hard work.
Good luck to all! May all your dreams be filled with this win.
Don't worry after I win I send you to Vegas with her . There you can marry her thru the marriage drive thru . Save me money and make you happy. If that is your girlfriend in that picture then am joining on this Vegas party train lol .What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas .
I can't edit my post. It's $14,000.
Sure you can have that for the next five years save this message for your claims lol you never know your wishes could be granted
In the Indian Ocean : Seychelles Islands.
"Assume the position". This is the REAL reason, why a lot of guys want to win the lottery. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WILL NEVER ADMIT IT. All you hear is blah blah cars, blah blah mansions, blah blah vacations and sometimes setting up a foundation. This is the primal instinct of the red blooded homo sapiens. IT'S OKAY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DENY IT.
It's only the " real" reason for folks who have not found the One. Once the One has been found, you don't NEED others. Oops, l just admitted it.
No one on LP who has made such a post has won a jackpot.
You just jinxed yourself.
I am not anyone. Am the first and the last . And tommorow is the solar eclipse all these are for me lol. There is always a one time for everything and I never said I will repeat it again anyway. So just relax buy your popcorn and enjoy the show ok maybe I invite you too later to Vegas to change all your luck to winners.
Did you read my mind Master?
I won't deny it. We do it for the girls.
Beautiful
Can give me the lottery number that you gonna play I want to play with you
Thanks for cheering me up. lol. Very nice not bad. Where did you find this pic?
How many LP members think it'll creep closer to $700 million? I'm in.
OTOH, $25 million Megamillions may seem paltry...would I turn it down? Heck no.
But seriously folks secondary prize is fine with me.
Me too. I don't get too wrapped up in the jackpot amount. I just get my ticket twice a week knowing that even second prize sets me for the rest of my life.
OK, so I went and bought a PB/W since it's in record territory.
Only about the 3rd one I bought since the last matrix change.
Wanted to wait til I took a trip to Delaware but since there's an eclipse I'll take a chance.
Oh wait...I went to the store in my truck, maybe I should have used my wife's car...yea...Mitsubishi Eclipse. LOL !
$25 million would suit me just fine. It would give me the ability to pay off all debts, buy a nice house, a new car and have $200k a year cash for the rest of my life. It would also allow me privacy which you would lose if you won a yuge jackpot.
Given it's already Monday and still no increase, i doubt that. Hopefully i'm wrong though if my numbers match.
I hope that Todd and the LP Staff will be ready for anything this Wednesday night.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quickness of Saturday's reporting of the results. Excellent job!
When I win Wednesday night I will invest the majority of it.
Give it time, it will increase. Look how many times it was xxxx amount and when you arise the next day after drawing it was higher than what they said day before.
I'm happy with $650 million dollars
There can be only one... And it's me.
How many tickets are you guys planning on buying? I've got 2.
Hello everybody. I am a long time lurker and decided to muster the courage to post. The lottery frenzy has gotten to me as well and I can't wait to see what shall occur in the coming days before the draw.
A quick pick and a self pick. Fingers crossed.
Well when I win, I am going to spend and enjoy some of it. That is a huge sum of money, well where it stands right now.
This jackpot has passed Gloria MacKenzie's jackpot.
Hoping for an international jackpot winner,it's bound to happen eventually.Might as well be this current jackpot.
Welcome!
Welcome to the LP
The home for wayward and misunderstood children who dream of hitting it big someday.
And All under the watchful eye of Father Todd aka Spencer Tracy.
There are no bad boys or bad girls in LP town.
I will gladly take $100,000 or $2 million or $650 million either one I win I will be a happy camper.-weshar75
Why?
plenty of colorful characters for sure jejeje
There are no bad boys or bad girls in LP town.
Then where' s the fun?
Lol lol
Yes.
Hey all new member here been playing the lottery since OCT 2016. I ordered a subscription through virginia lottery online and im playing 5 different lines for Wednesday. I've decided not to grab a new ticket because I've been going a bit overboard. But I just wanted to say that I wish you all the very best. Hopefully we all hit at least the 3rd prize. Best wishes- Mr. Flannigan
Welcome to you Mr. Flannigan and our other new member, Winnerg.
Paymentplan-man, you have something in common with our other cat lover, Hearsetrax!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL WITH A TICKET!
Cats are the main reason I don't believe the Earth is flat.
It it WAS flat, cats would have already pushed everything over the edge.
Mike, Thank You for the laughs. We need them.
A lot of members making fun. How about anyone has a strategy?
This topic is turning into social media.
Strategy???
Buy a ticket.
Good luck.
And?
Good grief.
I am not a cat lover, but this is too funny, hahahahahahaha.
Oh, oops, is laughing and having a good time prohibited?
You're right Wander, there's too much Tom Foolery going on here lately. Let's get back to business. Here is my "strategy" if I win:
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner!
Wander, the only people who could tell you how to win Wednesday are these people because I have no idea or good luck:
THESE PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT STRATEGY!!! I WANDER WHAT IT WAS?
BBLL, Billionaro is from Nambia (where's that?) and wants an international winner.
I say "NO WAY Billoniaro! That jackpot stays here in the USA baby!!!
Sales have been on a decline for some time now. It was raised to 650 million after no one hit Saturday night. Alnost 48 hours later it has not been raised yet. If you look back to last year when the record was set it was sitting at 334 million and no one hit and they announced for the next drawing a JP of 400 mill but with 352 mill in ticket sales it ended up jumping from 400 mill to 528 mill by the time of the drawing. This past drawing started out advertised at 510 mill but ended up going to 535 by the drawin on sales of 227 mill. That was 125 mill less in sales for an advertised 400 mill jp compared to an advertised 510 jp. 2 years ago after it rolled the original jp for the next drawing was set at 675 mill and it then was raised to 700 mill then 800 the next day and finally by the drawing it was raised again to almost 950 mill. That was the result of 880 mill in ticket sales. The drawing still has almost 2 days to go and i am guessing will probably increase by Wed night but since it is still sitting at 650 mill after all day Sunday and Monday with no increase i dont look for it to increase like 2 years ago. The way ticket sales have declined i see no way it can come close to the record even if it rolls this wed. Would have to roll again Sat to get up there is my guess
You'd certainly think it would increase, wouldn't you? Now it's past midnight on Tuesday and they haven't even bumped it up to 675. Maybe enough people were so distracted by the eclipse that they haven't noticed the giant jackpot yet and sales will really jump later today. Maybe MUSL just thinks eclipse fever is affecting the portion of sales that normally happen on Sunday and Monday, and they're waiting until they're more confident about their new prediction for Wednesday night's total.
Or maybe once there's been a jackpot of well over a billion dollars most of the people who used to drive the huge sales we've previously seen when the advertised jackpot passes the 300, 400, or 500 million dollar mark don't start buying until it's somewhere past 650.
If we don't see a big bump by noon I'll figure we probably won't see 750 by Wednesday night. On an optimistic note, that would mean almost a 50% chance of a rollover, and the next one would probably still make it past a billion. If we see one that tops out only slightly past a billion we'd have another decent chance of a rollover, and at that point we'd almost certainly see it set a new record, and probably make it past $2 billion.
Another upside of the slow growth is that there's a very good chance that we could see a single winner, with some very lucky person collecting an after-tax windfall that obliterates Gloria McKenzie's win.
Last year when the record was set ticket sales for the 950 mill JP and the record breaking JP totalled 2.15 billion dollars. Some people went way way overboard spending money and some may still be in debt because of it. Also many others may have said never again am i going to do this again. Just a guess on this but i thought it would have at least went up at least a small amount in 2 days. Guess we may see a late surge the next couple of days
Of course Bilionaro, if not from Namibia then it should be from Sweden. Good luck to you and all other international players that contribute to this rising jackpot!
Hi Alexnt55!
Your post made me realize the one thing that the $1.6 billion dollar jackpot had that this one does not and that is a major holiday as in the New Year!
We went straight through Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with no Jackpot win...
I think that had a lot to do with why so many people were willing to spend so much money....everyone wanted a chance to start the New Year with a potential jackpot win!
There's another time during the year that lottery jackpots seem to explode and that is during tax season...If its March or April and we see a jackpot that has rolled 15-18 times....people spend like crazy because of the extra cash they have from tax returns.
(Just wanted to share. Blessings to you all!)