$450 MILLION: Powerball lottery jackpot nears record

Comment #153

bern117 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 05:59:23 GMT

This along side a Maseratti Quattroport.

Comment #152

KY Floyd — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:00:08 GMT

My spreadsheet uses simple iterations of selling 175,223.51 tickets (0.1% of the number of combinations) to calculate the number of combinations in play. Since it only calculates an increased chance of duplicates after selling each additional 175,223 tickets it should slightly overestimate the number of combinations sold, but the error is very small. It indicates that selling a billion tickets would result in 99.67% of combinations being sold if all tickets were random. I expect that the QP perc... [ More ]

Comment #151

Drenick1 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 20:23:36 GMT

The only problems with the annuity is that the overall cash value after all the payments are made will be far less than what the cash value is today and that doesn't even take into account that the payments are progressively weighted.

With the lump sum payout, you only need a 3% annualized return to far exceed the total value of the annuity.

Comment #150

easygoing123go — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:06:34 GMT

I was thinking $525 by tomorrow, $700 on Saturday

Comment #149

Original Bey — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 18:20:15 GMT

$485m. Seriously? I wonder if we'll see a second bump tomorrow. If not I suspect it will roll over. This is not enough to ignite a frenzy. Casual players like to wait for the last minute

Comment #148

PrisonerSix — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 18:20:05 GMT

The actual jackpot will probably be more than that! Come on half billion!

I've got 2 tickets of my own and 3 in a lottery club, maybe we'll finally get lucky.

Comment #147

PrinceRene — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:51:46 GMT

Yessss

Comment #146

Bleudog101 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:42:29 GMT

Up to $485 million now

Comment #145

LottoLucy — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:33:11 GMT

Not for one this huge. I am more likely to consider the annuity option on a smaller jackpot when the graduated payments would be more than taking out 4% a year from a lump sum. I base the 4% figure on advice that some experts give to only take 4% a year so you never run out of money.

I would never fault anyone for taking the annuity. Some people just know themselves well and realize that they are not good with money or lack the will power not to spend it all in the first couple of years. Othe... [ More ]

Comment #144

Gleno — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:45:06 GMT

No harm in getting ticket(s) with an annuity option and some for the cash option.

If you won with the annuity, you be in the money for the long run.

Comment #143

Gleno — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:34:42 GMT

IF it rolls over again maybe tempted to just pass it up but also know that the thrill of playing comes when these jackpots get huge.

Comment #142

IPlayWeekly — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:05:13 GMT

There's PB frenzy at my job. I was just handed a PB betslip by my coworker... Nobody knows how much I play. I generally play 2 PB lines but I'll play 4 lines total for tomorrow, my own numbers.

Comment #141

Marilyn222 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:16:36 GMT

...not for someone else...hehehe

Comment #140

LottoMetro — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:11:34 GMT

As I said, the more tickets purchased the more duplicates there are.

From a theoretical standpoint:

For 73 million played, we would expect around 13 million duplicates, or 59.7 million uniques. For 232 million played, we would expect around 103.59 million duplicates, or 128.67 million uniques. The actual number of duplicates for the 2013 record PB jackpot was about 92 million (a difference of about 10 million), which left 140 million uniques. So player selection does skew the numbers. For... [ More ]

Comment #139

Teddi — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 12:39:16 GMT

Maybe. But only if I found out that I'd be able to sell the 29 remaining annuity payments to JG Wentworth or Peachtree and get more than the current cash value.

Comment #138

Original Bey — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 12:10:35 GMT

In 5 hours it will be 500m

Comment #137

alexnt55 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:44:08 GMT

For the PB record when there were 232 million tickets purchased there were 80% of the combinations played. How many more tickets do you figure would have needed to be purchased to cover the other the other 20% that were not played

Comment #136

RJOh — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:52:36 GMT

I haven't brought any tickets either. I like to do a little workout before I buy my tickets which is usually about 9:30 PM on drawing night. If the terminals are down because of bad weather or some other reason then I usually miss out and save some money.

Comment #135

Marilyn222 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:37:52 GMT

Probably for Western Union...lol

Comment #134

jr-va — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:37:33 GMT

I would consider it.

Comment #133

PrinceRene — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:24:34 GMT

Comment #132

Poo Nanny — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:21:17 GMT

There is no need for you to worry about that option. This jackpot is mine come Wednesday

Comment #131

Arrowhead — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:07:06 GMT

Anybody at all considering annuity as the way to go here? Before I'm jumped on, didn't say I was...

Comment #130

Arrowhead — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:04:14 GMT

Comment #129

RedStang — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:02:21 GMT

That line is probably for the other frenzy.

Comment #128

GoForTheGold — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 05:42:39 GMT

Should I win the jackpot, I think I'll dress as the Left Shark and dance with unmitigated joy and reckless abandon upon receipt of my winnings.

Comment #127

zinniagirl — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 05:03:44 GMT

Or female prison guard in eastern North Carolina, one of the formal first NC winners....

Comment #126

Coin Toss — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 04:17:40 GMT

jack27,

How about examples like the 19 year old girl in Georgia who won MM the first time she played, or the female corrections officer in NY who thought she played one jackpot game, actually played a different one, and won the jackpot

Comment #125

Marilyn222 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 03:50:44 GMT

What is my present

Comment #124

HaveABall — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 03:17:46 GMT

I don't understand how any person (adult or child) can talk/share on the phone with relatives every couple of months and feel that they have no relationship with them.

Comment #123

tony869 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 03:12:04 GMT

Trick #1

1 2 3 ? ? ?

Step 1. Print this page and take a pen

Step 2. Write 12 of your favorite numbers (1-59) in the blank spaces (A-L):

A=__ B=__ C=__ D=__ E=__ F=__ G=__ H=__ I=__ J=__ K=__ L=__

Step 3. Just below you see 6 tickets. Replace each letter code (A-L) with the corresponding number that you entered in the blank spaces from step 1.

Ticket 01 = A B D I J = __ __ __ __ __

Ticket 02 = A C G J K = __ __ __ __ __

Ticket 03 = B C E K L = __ __ __ __ __

Ti... [ More ]

Comment #122

mypiemaster — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 03:09:21 GMT

All it takes, is a $2.00 ticket, with the right six numbers in order and nothing else matters.

Comment #121

LottoMetro — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:12:01 GMT

Well, it would be 42% of combinations played IF every ticket was a unique combination. We know this is not the case. There are many duplicates, and the more tickets sold the more duplicates there will be. For 73 million tickets sold we would expect a little more than 13 million duplicates. For the PB record jackpot in 2013 only 80% combinations were sold, despite more than 232 million tickets purchased. Assuming random selection, to cover every combination it would require about a billion ticket... [ More ]

Comment #120

lejardin — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:54:40 GMT

Whoa, touch a nerve

Comment #119

lejardin — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:51:34 GMT

Ohhh ok. Isnt that the new model? Either way I like it.

Comment #118

Original Bey — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:44:58 GMT

I didn't know that either - lol

Comment #117

PrinceRene — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:42:06 GMT

I didn't know they sold PB tickets in the Bahamas.

Comment #116

Teddi — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:33:30 GMT

I'm a relatively young, black female. I guess Dr Sheldon Cooper would say I was attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis.

Thank you, I'm here all week.

Comment #115

Original Bey — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 00:36:43 GMT

Thanks a million for that detailed analysis! I remember that Jackpot vividly and was shocked myself when it wasn't hit.

Casual players seem to demand that the JP reach new heights before they break out into a frenzy. While the cash value is one of the highest, the every day Joe is dazzled by the annuity figure. More than 48 hours left and there's no telling how they will react to the possible bump tomorrow.

That being said, I want this baby to roll

Comment #114

alexnt55 — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 00:29:17 GMT

The chances of it rolling once again i guess would depend on the amount of tickets sold for the drawing. The last drawing tickets sales totaled about 146 mill so that would be about 73 mill combinations played. Since the odds are around 175 mill to 1 then if i am figuring this right that would come out to about 42% of the combinations were played. I am sure ticket sales will be higher for this coming drawing. If ticket sales for this drawing were say 250 mill that would be 125 mill combinations

Comment #113

delS — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 00:28:11 GMT

Im with you on that. Im fine with it as well. I think it may hit $475million by noon tomorrow, and $500million by Wednesday night............good luck.

Comment #112

gocart1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:33:53 GMT

I'M FINE WITH THAT

Comment #111

Original Bey — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:28:44 GMT

Fingers crossed. If they bump it up by another 50mil or so by noon Tuesday the casual players will toss a couple of bucks in the ring.

Comment #110

Marilyn222 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:06:01 GMT

There's line up here in Denver.

Comment #109

hearsetrax — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:02:25 GMT

tooo cold for frenzy .........

but that could be a small blessing

Comment #108

Original Bey — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:53:06 GMT

No frenzy yet . What are the chances this will roll one more time

Comment #107

christina1992 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:42:35 GMT

someone or two people are going to win this weds

Comment #106

Stack47 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:17:36 GMT

You're not the only one, but it's just your mind playing a trick on you and no big deal.

Didn't buy any PB tickets, but I was in 3 stores that sell lottery tickets and there was no line in any of them. There probably will be long lines at some of the state line stores selling tickets. Littlefield, Arizona would be an ideal spot for selling Arizona lottery tickets because its located on a 29 mile strip on I-15 between the Nevada and Utah state lines.

Comment #105

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 21:55:35 GMT

I am an old white guy .............. this must mean that I am going to win LOL

Comment #104

Marilyn222 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 20:46:24 GMT

He he he...

Comment #103

PrinceRene — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:56:14 GMT

Kudos are yummy.

Comment #102

IPlayWeekly — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:52:49 GMT

That's a huge house for 1.3, I do like the look

Comment #101

Piaceri — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:45:38 GMT

No, but it usually is rich old white people . So I was surprised it was not in there in the first place. Basically tongue in cheek, so lighten up. Maybe we can give our friend kudos for that.

Comment #100

PrinceRene — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:27:34 GMT

looks good.

Comment #99

PrinceRene — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:27:08 GMT

You're first purchase should be a gun and you're second purchase should be the bullets.

I already got that covered.

Comment #98

PrinceRene — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:26:00 GMT

nice

Comment #97

maringoman — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:14:54 GMT

Was it necessary to inject race in your rebuttal? amazing

Comment #96

Piaceri — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:22:47 GMT

Troll.

There are any number of jackpot winners that are 1) not rich 2) not old. I'm surprised you didn't throw in 'white'. smh

Don't like it? Don't play.

Comment #95

jack27 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:14:03 GMT

C'mon dude you know its true. Imma say it asomThe majority of the big jackpot winners are always some old man or an old woman or some type of greedy a$$ rich folk who are already worth million on their own. For example, Jack Whitaker ang Gloria Mckenzy. Now u dig?...lol

Comment #94

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:45:04 GMT

On 7.4 Acres for $1,300,000 near where I live

Comment #93

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:43:03 GMT

2014 Rolls Phantom

Comment #92

RedStang — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:42:09 GMT

You're first purchase should be a gun and you're second purchase should be the bullets.

Comment #91

surimaribo24 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:59:52 GMT

let the excitement begin .. precict over 500 mill by Wednesday .

goodluck players

Comment #90

Gleno — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:37:52 GMT

Todd,

Thanks again for the info, see from the site that that N.J. players pay 3% with holding tax on their winning and the federal with holding is 25%.

It might pay to keep those losing tickets in the event of a significant prize, to write off as an expense .

Comment #89

Todd — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:58:45 GMT

USA Mega has all this information. Click the Powerball Drawing Detail link in the Powerball news story after each drawing.

Comment #88

Gleno — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:42:33 GMT

Todd,

Thanks for the brake down on the lower prizes that were won on 2/7/15 in the other states.

Like the pari-mutuel payout in California.

Comment #87

Get paid — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:17:53 GMT

Ok my lottery post buddies,lets do this: $2:00 maybe 3 an a dream. I hope the money Gods r looking down on me.

Comment #86

Tinker — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:17:01 GMT

The wackos think you carry all that in cash with you. Mr. Smith Wesson will take care of them.

Comment #85

glisit3000 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:10:10 GMT

nah not like that. You shouldn't be so quick to assume. I wouldn't hypothetically abandon family members over money. My family live 7 hours away I see them once a year if that and talk to them every couple of months. Not on Skype either. We have no relationship.

have my kids who live with me but yes I would be gone in a minute with my kids... It's nice to dream.

Good luck to everyone on this site...

Comment #84

rundown99 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:54:52 GMT

The closest I have been to winning a jackpot was in 2003 when I matched 3 white balls and the red powerball and won $100. That ticket was a quick pick. With the odds of winning the powerball being 1 in 175,223,510, I honestly think that if I ever won the jackpot, it would be a quick pick. I haven't played the lottery in years, but I would focus on playing in a state where I could be anonymous. Honestly, I would rather not win anything and live a normal life than win millions of dollars and have... [ More ]

Comment #83

Technut — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:06:17 GMT

with you on this fact. anyone who plays the lottery should only play with money they can afford to lose. since the odd are stacked against them to begin with and yes i do play sometimes myself but never with money i can't afford to lose.

Comment #82

PrinceRene — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 03:56:20 GMT

You don't need to move to SD for an entrance gate like this. They are all over the country. Just google search Guard Gated Communities

Comment #81

HaveABall — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 03:33:21 GMT

Or maybe move into a new neighborhood in San Diego ... that offers something similar to this entrance gate with a bigger staffed security structure 24/7.

Comment #80

Marilyn222 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 03:19:04 GMT

hahaha...

Comment #79

LottoMetro — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 02:37:22 GMT

The actual cash for last night's drawing was $266.8 million, which is a difference of about $10 million from the advertised. The difference between projected and actual sales was about $35.6 million (if sales figures are correct). As far as how many transactions feature X amount, that info is known but internal vendor use only. It's not really useful for practical purposes. Most players don't start spending more than a few dollars until the jackpot is near record territory.

Comment #78

LottoMetro — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 02:31:06 GMT

Simple. Buy all the houses in your neighborhood.

Comment #77

RJOh — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 02:20:08 GMT

Why not? You can afford to buy another house maybe a vacation home somewhere else ready if you ever want a change of scenery.

Comment #76

ttech10 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 02:10:14 GMT

Am I doing it right

Comment #75

alexnt55 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:56:34 GMT

Players did not put in an additional almost 60 million for the drawing. You are looking at what the annuity value was at the drawing time for last nights drawing was 394.5 mill and at what they are now putting up as the annuity value is for the next drawing 450 mill which it will be much higher then that as they always put up a low number and it will be much higher then 450 mill by Wed drawing. Ticket sales for last nights drawing were actually 146 mill so those 112 tickets totaled 12907448. Tha... [ More ]

Comment #74

PrinceRene — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:56:27 GMT

I was expecting to see more pictures of cars and houses in this thread.

Comment #73

Piaceri — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:20:09 GMT

I completely agree. You have to give yourself some 'blow' money to celebrate. Plus a new place to live and an upgrade in vehicle.

For those states that insist on the publicity.. would they delay the announcement/news conf/etc until funds were confirmed in your bank? Especially for those who have nothing to draw on to escape the crazies, no place to go, no funds to go into hiding. For someone in that situation, it would be like the attack of the living dead..

Comment #72

maximumfun — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:13:37 GMT

hmm... Portugal would be alright... i could end up there. Or Italy - I always liked the idea of living in a country shaped like a boot.

but i would take the family with me. and we would all learn portugalese or Italch - you know - the local dialects done with bad American-accents.

Comment #71

En ReVal — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:07:21 GMT

That was funny--You would have to have someone close--Family do get mad over money. Mom and niece already have my money spent---NOT. It would be nice to know the Wisconsin mathematical equation.

Comment #70

noise-gate — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:57:04 GMT

Oh Yeah?- going to move out of the country, refuse to see faces of your loved ones up close and personal, no real hugs or kisses? Lets do that on Skype ...over Money? No Thank You ..glisit3000.

Comment #69

glisit3000 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:49:11 GMT

man I win and I'm gone... ...moving out the country asap. I'll talk to my family like I do now ,on the phone and every couple of months. I'll happily take the problems and burden of having to much money..

Comment #68

noise-gate — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:48:28 GMT

l get the funny feeling that we wont have to wait long to find out ... you will announce it for all to hear. After-all, you telling us that you Play Weekly . l am betting that NOBODY asked you for that information prior to setting up your account, or did they

Comment #67

maximumfun — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:47:13 GMT

day 0 - wednesday 2/11 = win

day 1 - wake up with severe hang-over - step over most of friends/family - look frantically for winning ticket.

day 2 - fill prescriptions for no-panic-attack medicines - call CPA and start arranging 'team'

day 3 - take 'team' down to lottery headquarters and redeem ticket

day 4 - answer 100th phone call from lost friends and shirt-tail relatives. yank phone from wall

day 5 - let phone repair man into home to fix wiring. finish packing for last-minute... [ More ]

Comment #66

delS — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:38:29 GMT

I hear you. For me personally, I want to have some things in order, and I dont want my spending to announce my status too soon. But I understand we all will employ different strategies.

Comment #65

Bleudog101 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:04:16 GMT

Cool...being retired Army I'm so glad to read about your endeavours. Good luck to you and Go Army

Comment #64

mikeintexas — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:03:13 GMT

^This = Truth

Comment #63

Bleudog101 — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:59:36 GMT

Have a Season Tikcet from Massachusetts, have a ticket from Indiana, got some from the casino in Ohio today and more Kentucky ones and the way home. So be both have tickets from four different states

Comment #62

Teddi — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:58:35 GMT

I was with you right up to #9. And if this were a smaller jackpot, I'd probably agree. But since the after taxes take home amount will be knocking on the door of $200 million, a person could go on a shopping spree and not make a dent. I will be closing on (if not already moved into) my new and wonderful house within 30-60 days of that money hitting my bank account. A luxury car and an SUV will be in the garage and some new clothes will be in the closet. I think that may touch on 3-5%. I will be... [ More ]

Comment #61

Teddi — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:39:32 GMT

Actually, quite a few have received threats, especially when the number is high. Many of them have had to get the police involved because the threats were that serious. The Morrisons hired a security detail to stay with everyone in their immediate family in the week after their names were announced. I can think of 2 winners off the bat who had to get the FBI involved. There are a lot of greedy wackos out there who wouldn't think twice about killing someone for their lottery winnings.

Comment #60

delS — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:33:14 GMT

Many sad endings to the lives of JP Winners are not from people who found them via the news. Most of the tragic and sad endings happen because of friends and family who want more than what you may be willing to give. Most of what Ive seen that has been shocking has been spouses, children, and/or other family members.

Comment #59

IPlayWeekly — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:27:24 GMT

I live in an anonymous state so you guys won't know when I win

Comment #58

christina1992 — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:27:18 GMT

i live in illinois, 45 mins from glendale heights where the last mega millions winner won. a gas station enployee i go to says couple customers told him that person has gone missing and r looking. or they could be hiding idk who knows now

Comment #57

Arrowhead — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:18:47 GMT

A SECURITY FIRM? Come on, now.....

First, if you live in a state where you can remain anonymous...you can remain anonymous.

Otherwise, agree you have to be extremely careful, but how many major JP winners over the years, even with their names made public, have had genuine security issues, at least ones that made headlines?

Not many. After a period of time, the winning names get forgotten or at least put on the shelf until the next huge JP winner comes along.

Comment #56

noise-gate — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:14:23 GMT

...More or less like these fella's below.

Comment #55

Jace2014 — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:12:47 GMT

time to buy my one ticket and win it all

Comment #54

delS — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:07:22 GMT

Whether you live in a state that allows you to remain anonymous or not, these are some suggestions I'd offer to everyone:

Pray and seek God's guidance. Keep the news of your good fortune to a tight knit small number of people Have ideas/a plan of your own, until your professional team is assembled Get a copy of the book, Strangers in Paradise, by James Grubman, Ph.d, awesome book that gives sound advice to those who have never lived in Paradise - IN WEALTH. Anyone winning this amount pretty... [ More ]