Now the 7th-biggest lottery jackpot in US history
Mega Millions also bumps up jackpot — to $450 million
By Todd Northrop
Due to larger than expected sales volume, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) has raised the official Powerball lottery jackpot estimate for Saturday's drawing to $570 million.
The all-important lump-sum cash value of the jackpot has been raised to $358.5 million.
The newly-increased jackpot amount bumps the ranking of the Saturday drawing's jackpot to the 7th-largest ever recorded in United States lottery history. The cash value still ranks as the 8th-largest of all time. The top-25 annuity and cash value jackpots are listed below.
The Powerball drawing will be conducted Saturday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time (7:59 pm Pacific). The mammoth grand prize started at $40 million on Oct. 28, 2017, and is the result of 20 drawings with no jackpot winner.
After the Wednesday evening Powerball drawing, when it was determined that there were no jackpot winners, the new jackpot estimate for Saturday was set at $550 million, with a cash value of $347.9 million. The lottery sets the initial estimates based on what they conservatively believe the ticket sales will be prior to the next drawing. When it becomes clear that actual ticket sales are vastly outstripping the initial projections, the lotteries raise the jackpot estimate accordingly — as they did today.
It is quite possible that by the time the drawing occurs tomorrow night, the jackpot will be further increased. The final jackpot tally is announced during the live drawing show.
Separately, the state lotteries this morning have also increased the amount of tonight's Mega Millions jackpot to $450 million, with a cash value of $281.2 million, making the combined total of the Powerball and Mega Millions drawings this week $1.02 billion.
Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Saturday night (or tonight for the Mega Millions drawing) are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com). State lottery websites are normally brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.
Players looking for a nearby lottery retailer — or that out-of-the-way retailer with a smaller line — are encouraged to use Lottery Places, an app for iOS, Android, and Windows that can locate the nearest lottery retailers in every jurisdiction that sells Powerball and Mega Millions. The helpful app can locate lottery stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, much of Canada, and the Caribbean.
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.
Players are advised not to wait until the last minute to buy tickets, as the ticket cutoff time varies between states.
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.
According to the Texas Lottery, if there's no winner for tomorrow night's drawing, the next estimated jackpot for Powerball will be $725 million.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 7th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, and the 5th-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Brisk sales will almost certainly push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
- 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: $570 million, Jan. 6, 2018 - Initial estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $450 million, Jan. 5, 2018 - Initial estimate, not won yet
- 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
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 8
- 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 8th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- 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
- 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
- Powerball: $358.5 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($570 million annuity) - Initial estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $281.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($450 million annuity) - Initial estimate, not won yet
- 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
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
Here comes $600 for Powerball, plenty of time for this to happen. The media is having a field day with these two humongous Jackpots. Like adding fuel to the fire.
$1,020,000,000.00 A billion dollars!! Ready to be won this weekend. This news should be all over the nation. This is what the lottery organizers want to see and they are getting it.
#7 and #11 biggest jackpots! Holy Guacamole! I think MM drops tonight and Powerball rolls to $1 Billion for next Wednesday! I am going to buy tickets for both!
I think tomorrow's PB jackpot will increase to $625-650M !!! The BIG money is just beginning to show up!
Just think of the poor clerks in Primm Lotto Store just across the border from Las Vegas in California. This cold air freezing my brain, but looked it up yesterday and someone from Las Vegas won big on MM from that store some time ago.
Big Money refers to all the people buying tickets in the frenzy to win big! I heard Donald J Trump is going to buy 1000 tickets! HA! Think people would be mad if he won?
Bleudog101, Yes, those clerks and the clerks back East. Don't forget the ones in the upper Midwest. North Dakota, Minnesotta, Upper Michigan, Maine.
I'm sure many of those aforementioned states have lottery machines to play by yourself. I rub big blue and say 'Hey baby' to her as the big mean looking truckers look @ me like I've lost my mind.
Half the population will be upset and the other half will rejoice with the President.
I figured the CA After Tax Take Home "ATTH" Cash Lump Sum = $225,855,000 PB and MM ATTH cash lump sum = $177,156,000 MM
Wow for Californians and especially the winner!
Good Luck to all LP Members!!
Bleudog101, Is "big blue" your car? What make and model? Have you lost your mind? LOL
If PB rolls, it goes up to $725 Million plus, on Wed. That's a $456 Million lump sum.
Thank You Redd55, That will be a $155 million jump for the Annuity and almost a $100 million increase for the Cash Lump Sum! That will be something to look forward too.
REDD, the new estimated Jackpot for next Wednesday is woefully low. Why are they so conservative on estimates? Monday it will be reset to $800M+, Tuesday $900M+, etc. I think there is a good chance we see $1 Billion next Wednesday.
Everybody have a warm, happy weekend! Go Rams!
Better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.
Will the cold weather affect the number of players? This could be a limiting factor. This weather is hitting half of the nation.
This current bump doesn't greatly affect the time schedule of a Billion Dollar Annuity by 01-17 or 01-20.
The Jackpot Junkies need to heighten the hype.
Widen those saucer sized eyes out to the dinner plate state.
Both these jackpots will come to rest...in the West!
As Saruman the White, with a sly grin once said " l have seen it!"
*Funny you should mention the cold weather Music. I drove onto the on ramp leading South on 880,and lo and behold, there were not one, but two panhandlers in the pouring rain, under a makeshift tarp, cardboard signs the works- plying their trade. If these guys can come up with a way of getting " their job done," those folks battling the weather across the nation have nothing to complain about. It's picking up your tickets, and heading home. These characters are going to be standing there for quite a while mate.People will find a way to get their tickets, they always do.
noise-gate, Were you going to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk? "Need is the Mother of Invention".
I do have a dark blue Subie. Big blue is the IGT self service lottery machine; we have two in this small town. So I rub her for good luck...lol
Not a snow ball's chance in h---l. Lottery players are a hearty group and they'll play no matter what the weather. I could easily buy tickets in the warm house, but this time opted out to visit both big blue machines in town.
Do you rub the upper arms of lottery winners too? Especially lottery winners who have won the top 25 lotteries? Good Luck to you Bleudog101!
Nah,
Prefer to rub inanimate objects...Good luck to you too, Music*
Santa Cruz beach boardwalk? -Nope. It's probably raining down there as well.But l do have fond memories of the place in my late teens & early 20's. Cherie, all 110 lbs of her, pushing me up against the wall, running her fingers through my hair..don't get me started Music! This is a PG site!
The last $1B PB was won in January 2016, this may turn out to be a trend.
A 1.5 billion dollar jackpot won on January 13, 2016, a Wednesday night. It could be a trend. We shall soon see. Best of luck to you!
Well now that Florida won the big Mega Millions Jackpot, Powerball should really take off. Glad to see there were some secondary prizes and two folks bought Megaplier for $3 million each.
Big $6 winner here....lol
Will we see a rollover? PB would then have the Annuity = $725 million and Cash= $456 million!!!
Congratulation to the winner/winners in Florida! MM had a good run while it lasted.
Pennsylvania is due for a really big winner!
Yesterday I was in Connecticut and bought 1 ticket for each MM & PB. I also have my N.Y. tickets.
I won nothing on the MM ticket, so, if the PB winner is from NY or CT....it could be me!
Eight $1 million winners last night!
Awesome!
2 were in Texas, both were quick picks and 1 had the megaplier, smaller communities(Humble/Baytown) on the outside of the greater Houston area. They can both collect anonymously due to our lottery change effective JAN 1st, 2018 !!!
Congrats to those folks !!!!! and congrats to the winner(s) in Florida
SOMETHING tells me that somebody in Eastern Washington state will win it. I can feel it.
Eastern NC, me... lol
Will you guys stay where you won it?
hell no lol
Yeah, but l will move to higher ground. Erect gun turrets strategically to cover the perimeters
....against any unwanted intruders...of course.l remember how Ridge used to say that he had the advantage of seeing someone coming up to his mountain fortress. I guess he didn't call himself Ridge for nothing.
Ole Ridge Runner! He had is own peculiar sense of humor. I remember, "mattresscide". LOL
Are we all waiting for a bump up on Power Ball or will it come out at draw time?
Bump up or not, this jackpot is ready to burst! I wouldn't mind one bit, if the PB
its entire load on me. Soak me baby, make it rain!
What's up with the Powerball chiefs? This should be reset to $650M by now!
I'm waiting for the jackpot to hit $600 million before i jump in. I will get a PB ticket after the next rollover.
Naw the winner is on my dresser...
Power Ball numbers have been reset to lower amounts.
The annuity is now $559.7 million
The cash lump sum is $352 million
Are these numbers good for Wednesday too?
I think some one won tonight and I am not waiting up to see the results.-weshar75
Those amounts are what was announced at drawing time, which indicates actual sales fell short of the projected amount $570M. Should no one win tonight the jackpot would go up to $725M.
One winner in New hampshire.-weshar75
It's been a pattern when both are high,when one hits,the other hits. So I doubt we need to computate for a further draw amount. I had a 50/50 chance..Win or not win. So far I've been consistent in not winning. That will change :)
Okay, maybe it will stick. I saw a msg on usamega that someone in NH won and posted it on here. I then noticed that it was only a few minutes past 9 pm pst and thought it was too early for results and double checked. The usamega announcement was gone so I deleted my comment here.
You are right New Hampshire won the whole enchilada.-weshar75
But why was it posted around 9 pm and then removed? I think Todd has inside sources.
I got the news from Powerball website not usamega.-weshar75
It's posted on usamega now. My point is that it was first posted a few minutes past 9 pm and then removed.
In the past I have seen early posts of info on winners early because Todd has the info on it and he posts it before he posts the actual results.-weshar75
I needed this
Yep, I had it early but removed it out of abundance of caution.
What happen to all that money? $570mil? HA! They were saying that since Wednesday night, then on Friday they said it would increase from that cuz of all the extra sales. Now after the drawing it's only a total of $559mil. Who's pocketing all that 'extra' money? What a rip off! If that was me who won, I be raising hell! Well, not that much hell, with 200mil in my pocket, I'd disappear real quick...SMFH!!
I guess you were not aware that they are estimated jackpots. They create the estimate based on the volume of sales that they are seeing, but obviously sales in the final day (Saturday) were not quite as large as expected. Your question about "who has the money" is a little over-the-top. Of course nobody "has extra money". It's an estimate, and then when the draw occurs they announce the actual amount, based on the sales that actually occurred.