$500 MILLION: Powerball jackpot explodes in ticket-buying frenzy

Comment #86

LottoMetro — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:05:20 GMT

Even spending $500 your odds of winning are worse than 1 in 1 million

I bought 1 and only 1 ticket for Saturday. If it rolls again, maybe 10

Comment #85

alexnt55 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 06:28:43 GMT

The cash value ended up going up 102 million on tonight's drawing. If my math is right they must have had about 300 million in sales. While there is no doubt the annuity amount will set a new high record the cash record will take about 450 million in sales to reach a new record there. The advertised JP of 675 million is really a very low estimate and will probably be raised daily until the drawing on Saturday.

Comment #84

AbsolutelyFun — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 06:08:11 GMT

Kyle r u David Edwards incarnate? If you don't know who that is then please Google his name along with Powerball Winner

Comment #83

Albeone — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 06:06:53 GMT

Well we are now entering uncharted territory. Cash value could easily hit 500M which would make it tops, and that translates to a 816 jackpot total. That would make me reconsider the cash instead of annuity decision.

Comment #82

Suzy-Dittlenose — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 06:06:16 GMT

To avoid the long lines, I'm getting my $500 worth of PB tickets tomorrow morning! If I had kids I'd sell them to the traveling circus and buy more tickets.....ha! It's time to go bonkers people.....

Comment #81

GGStarlings — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:55:51 GMT

Step aside, Bill Gates.

Comment #80

Deeyar948 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:55:18 GMT

it will surley be the largest cash value by the time draw time comes

Comment #79

Todd — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:54:30 GMT

New cash value is $413.1 million second-largest ever.

Comment #78

dearlord — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:52:22 GMT

Kaaaaaaaaty! Bar the door!!! This will be a billion by drawing time

Comment #77

whiteballz — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:47:26 GMT

OMG.

Comment #76

JAMORA — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:40:33 GMT

LOL GG...the madness of the new matrix may create the new world owner...lol

Comment #75

GGStarlings — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:35:28 GMT

Holy giganticus ball o' balls... this is a bit of fun, isn't it.

Comment #74

LottoMetro — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:35:02 GMT

I don't know how Todd checks but MUSL has a data feed that goes to all the lottery vendors. The number of winners gets posted in advance of the jackpot being updated....usually 15 minutes before but sometimes sooner. The lotteries won't post these figures until the jackpot is made official

Comment #73

BBLL — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:30:44 GMT

How do you guys know there isn't a winner tonight? Where do you guys check at

Comment #72

Deeyar948 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:26:25 GMT

Will easily be 800 million by draw time. i guarantee it

Comment #71

LottoMetro — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:24:20 GMT

You know the lotteries are all smiles. LOL

Comment #70

Todd — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:22:56 GMT

No winner tonight.

The jackpot for Saturday is a world record $675 million -- and surely much bigger than that by draw time

Comment #69

Deeyar948 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:19:44 GMT

Looks like no winner tonight

Comment #68

LottoMetro — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:13:32 GMT

OK all....to the best of my knowledge....NO WINNER!

15 second place winners (1 PowerPlay)

*Of course, nothing official until MUSL posts the next jackpot....but not gonna wait, off to bed and will probably play Saturday

Comment #67

Ralphie762 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:00:09 GMT

Would be great if it reached a billion but it's unlikely, will probably peak around the 750M mark as mentioned (and if no one won tonight's draw).

Comment #66

MzDuffleBaglady — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 04:56:35 GMT

I bought 2 lines for my sister with PowerPlay.

All she had was the Powerball (17) .

Whatever that's worth?

Good Luck.

Comment #65

Todd — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 04:55:51 GMT

The official jackpot tally for this drawing was $524.1 million.

Comment #64

LottoMetro — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 04:53:15 GMT

$535.2M annuity at last estimate.......

Comment #63

Suzy-Dittlenose — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:50:34 GMT

I'll guess a $750M starting, then over a billion by Sat draw time.

Cha-ching....

Comment #62

RedStang — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:44:15 GMT

I'll guess a 660 start if it rolls.

Comment #61

alexnt55 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:34:45 GMT

Todd i agree that if nobody hits it tonight and it ends up at 500 m 675 m would be a very low number for it to initially go to. I think it would be close to the 725-750 amount

Comment #60

alexnt55 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:26:07 GMT

The annuity jackpot for Saturdays drawing ended up being 355.8 mil with a cash value showing 218.4 mil. The cash value right now is showing 306 mil. I think 34% of sales go to the jackpot. This would be about 88 mil higher which would take around 260 mil in sales to increase this much. I might be wrong in how i figured this and if so someone out might point it out.

Comment #59

Teddi — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:13:27 GMT

Only if we were in Britain. Even if we didn't have to wait decades to get the whole thing, there's still a big chunk of money going to taxes that the winner will never see, so not half billionaire yet. If it rolls to next Wednesday, then yes.

Comment #58

Teddi — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:05:28 GMT

That's the crazy thing. I stopped at two different places that usually have lines when the JP is big, and there was no one. Not at the machines, not at the register, everyone was just doing their own thing and didn't seem to care at all about the lottery. It was lunch time and a lot of people were milling about, just not buying tickets.

I remember right before Gloria won, I couldn't go anywhere without hearing people talking about it. Check out lines, restaurants, the office, there as a lot... [ More ]

Comment #57

Prob988 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:02:37 GMT

Final probabilities for numbers of winners, assuming $316M in sales, utilizing a Poisson distribution and assuming randomization:

k, number of winners p(m,k)

0 57.00%

1 32.04%

2 9.01%

3 1.69%

4 0.24%

5 0.03%

The expectation value, pre-tax, is 0.63.

Comment #56

Teddi — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:49:49 GMT

ME TOO!!! As much as I would love to win it tonight (and wouldn't even mind splitting it at this point), I do want to see how far it will go because it has been one of the wackiest jackpots already. It's a JP that decreased in sales at the $300M mark and now it's jumped $100M between draws at the $400M mark. Plus, the CV is outstanding. A wacky and fantastic JP run deserves a one of a kind ending.

Comment #55

faber98 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:36:08 GMT

nice job you must have if you can devote all that time and energy to running and keeping all that straight. if the impossible ever happens there will be issues and lawsuits for sure from anyone who got left out that week.

Comment #54

Murgatroyd — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:28:57 GMT

With the minimum jackpot, there's about a 5% chance of a winner.

Comment #53

KY Floyd — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:04:21 GMT

Reaching a billion in one more draw is possible, but not likely. Even if it tops out at 550 tonight that's an increase of 450, which is 50% more than we've ever seen before, and that was almost 4 years ago. I'd guess 800+, and wouldn't be hugely surprised if it got to 900, but I wouldn't expect a billion.

As for how many tickets, they need another $306 million in cash if tonight ends at an even $500. At 68 cents from each ticket that's 450 million tickets. Depending on the reserve fund it mig... [ More ]

Comment #52

Kyle7824 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:52:21 GMT

Got 1 QP and 1 my own numbers...

So.... make that $500,000,004? lol

Comment #51

Kyle7824 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:28:02 GMT

I'll give you those two if I win... :)

Oh and we can't forget a Venom Viper

Comment #50

VenomV12 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:23:50 GMT

You have fantastic taste in cars, we can be best friends. You are going have up that to at least 10 cars, I can't believe you forgot the 427 Cobra and the Eleanor Mustang.

Comment #49

LottoMetro — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:21:01 GMT

I don't think it will be a billion Saturday. That would require them to sell about $1.24 billion in tickets for tonight and Saturday night.

Comment #48

Albeone — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:17:51 GMT

It could be $600M by the time of the drawing. If it rolls on after tonight it would start in the $700M range but could approach a billion by Saturday night.

Comment #47

ohiopick3 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:14:38 GMT

News Channel 5 in Cleveland said that if there is no winner in this drawing, it can be more than $675 million.

Let the game begin. Could be tonight, because you never just don't know.

Good Fortune to all that played tonight

Comment #46

Piaceri — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:06:40 GMT

I actually have 2 lottery pools I run at the office when the cash option reaches $100m. One is entire office, the other just our group (supervisor 4 reports). For the bigger pool, we have 19 regulars and two irregular players out of about 30. We have 4 who never play for religious or other reasons and they are excluded from the email I send out before each drawing. I give a minimum 24 hours, use the same wording each time saying it is up to you to join what the deadlines are. I also keep a bank

Comment #45

Romancandle — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:47:36 GMT

That's nuts... 60%

What the chance (typically) when the jackpot is a measly 40 or 50 million... I'm surprised at how often it gets hit then

Comment #44

nist7seven — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:46:29 GMT

No way it goes to 1 billion like so many says. If rolls over tonight, then likely 650-700MM on saturday.

Comment #43

LottoMetro — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:45:15 GMT

Sales are on fire (over $100 million in excess of my estimate), cash starting at around $413 million if no winner tonight.

Believe it or not, ~60% chance no winner. 100% chance I am not participating tonight. LOL

Comment #42

Groppo — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:33:18 GMT

Yes, good luck to you, as well.

But when it turned 300 million, that's all the big news I needed.

Comment #41

Romancandle — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:28:34 GMT

Ha Ha... I wagered $3 less than you and thought the same thing...

Let the whales bet away... I'm just krill in this betting pool

Comment #40

Polarshark — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:26:59 GMT

i want it to rollover because then that would be big news for the next few days, the press, the attention, and a possible 1 billion dollar jackpot, it'll make things more interesting for a while rather than the same old news but good luck to all.

Comment #39

Groppo — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:20:46 GMT

I promise you, I will be the one rolling over in their sleep,

if no one hits this thing. It's too high for anyone's good, as it is.

Think of the splits.

Right now, Amma setting inside, wif all my lotto tickets, jessa waiting, and waiting, watchin' all kindsa shows, and not even be payin' attenshn, ma mind is focused on dat doggone lotto.

Please, if you win it all, could you see your way to giving me .5 million. Das all I need. And I'm going to stop playin'.

(no party... [ More ]

Comment #38

Groppo — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:16:32 GMT

Man, I hope somebody win dis mufugga t'night, 'n' shee.

I'm sick of sein nobody win dis mufugga.

Da jackpot go up, but atda same time, so do da splits.

(please pardon the use of jive talk. I get that way, when I get frustrated, following the lotto, draw after draw after draw after draw

Comment #37

Gleno — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:59:30 GMT

Found a lottery machine that dispenses all the games including scratch offs, a.k.a refrigerators in a chain drug store.

Must have been dinner time because there were few people in the store at 4:50 PM and no line at the machine.

If a lottery pool wins won't be surprised if there will be difficulties that arise, as is often seen in the past.

Anyone have any idea how many lottery pools were formed for this drawings?

How many pool organizer's provide its members with a a copy of the... [ More ]

Comment #36

Kyle7824 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:57:03 GMT

Car wish list

Ferrari 355 Berlinetta

Porsche GT3

Lamborghini Diablo Old School Bull

Aston Martin DB7

BMW Z8

Shelby Mustang GT350

1967 427 Corvette Stingray

1963 Corvette Spilt Window

Now I need a storage building to fit 8 cars....

Comment #35

Redd55 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:45:19 GMT

Gee, I blew $18 bucks on tickets and thought it was excessive.

Good luck to you, tho.

Comment #34

Suzy-Dittlenose — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:40:24 GMT

Good-golly-miss-Molly! I just spent $100 on tickets and now it's increased to $500M! There was a long line of buyers and it took me about 40 minutes standing in line before I was able to get mine. If no one wins tonight I am certain it will reach the billion mark for Saturday. My husband and I have agreed to spend $500 on tickets if it does rollover. With all those zeros we may have to buy walkers to minimize getting dizzy and falling over.....ha....

Comment #33

VenomV12 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:28:10 GMT

Eh, I'd still happily take the million dollar second prize and quietly disappear into the night.

Comment #32

HoLeeKau — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:53:43 GMT

Nope. That's like saying if I'm working for $50K per year, then I'm a millionaire. It'll take 20 years of working, but you will have earned a million. No way you're a millionaire though.

Comment #31

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:36:43 GMT

$500 Million I got my tickets

Comment #30

Polarshark — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:36:01 GMT

come on rollover

Comment #29

majestic1070 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:35:50 GMT

In case I do win I'm changing my whole indenity and getting plenty of plastic surgery.

Comment #28

whiteballz — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:22:05 GMT

So can we all agree that winning a $500 million annuity makes someone a half-billionaire? Yes or no

Comment #27

Coin Toss — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:01:53 GMT

There will appear to be two winners tonight but it will be one person who played the same numbers twice, for whatever reason.

Comment #26

Ron5995 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 21:06:21 GMT

Or it could end on a whimper with the actual payout falling short, such as $490 million. It already happened once before back in 2013. MUSL advertised $600 million, but the actual payout to the Florida winner was less at ~$590 million. From all indications, the $500 million estimate is probably more solid, but don't bet the ranch on it. MUSL doesn't honor its estimates. In contrast, many state lotteries will payout the advertised amount, regardless of actual sales, for their in-state games.... [ More ]

Comment #25

noise-gate — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 21:03:00 GMT

Escalation is a good thing especially when it involves money that could be coming to you. .

Comment #24

whiteballz — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:53:02 GMT

Well this escalated quickly.

Comment #23

noise-gate — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:37:56 GMT

Come on California- come on Baby. Show the way to the winner's circle. You always do: we counting on you to come through.Do it because you CAN.

End this tonight

Comment #22

travelintrucker — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:15:41 GMT

The jackpot is going to Pluto! Whoo-hoo

Comment #21

Todd — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 20:08:28 GMT

The Texas Lottery says that if nobody hits tonight it will initially go to $675 million. I can't imagine it not going higher than that by draw time.

Comment #20

Stack47 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:55:49 GMT

Based on ticket sales the estimated jackpot when up $170 million. How many tickets does it take to get that kind of increase

Comment #19

Braco — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:44:15 GMT

Comment #18

crazyjaney — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:25:10 GMT

Definately see the ticket buying frenzy. Wasn't a line per se, but there were 5 folks buying tix at my local circle k. Definately an abnormality for this time of day.

Comment #17

ressuccess — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:11:10 GMT

I hope it rolls one more time before one winning jackpot steps forward.

Comment #16

THRIFTY — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:09:18 GMT

08-10-11-14-22 + 07

17-24-30-35-56 + 11

11-24-49-62-69 + 17

15-32-54-61-69 + 20

02-15-32-56-59 + 24

12-36-59-68-69 + 09

03-04-51-57-62 + 04

07-47-58-60-64 + 15

36-38-61-62-67 + 24

06-09-12-14-65 + 06

09-16-37-42-69 + 01

08-14-31-54-65 + 16

02-06-19-54-58 + 06

10-17-22-62-65 + 07

10-23-24-28-67 + 01

08-13-36-49-62 + 22

06-17-28-31-34 + 21

12-24-26-28-29 + 02

39-52-54-57-59 + 01

08-14-27-40-64 + 15

13-21-44-52-59 + 20

09-38-45-46-56

Comment #15

Piaceri — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:04:05 GMT

I'm ready! Show me the money!

Good luck everyone! Winner from LP tonight

Comment #14

crazyjaney — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:56:41 GMT

It doesn't need to rollover.... A half billion is perfectly fine with me. Lol!!Heck I'd be pleased with a second place prize of a cool mill too :-).

Good luck everyone!!! I hope someone from LP wins this thing

Comment #13

music* — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:55:06 GMT

A rollover to set records. Great idea. If I do not win.

Comment #12

psykomo — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:22:26 GMT

Today's the dream day for all JACKPOT ticket buyers BUT, there is always BUTT out there somewhere and that

was Tuesday 1/5/2016 when we were chasing another DREAM and another BIG jackpot. Yes, Psyko was out

there swimming upstream with the many other FISH to promise LAND of MONEY and HONEY'$ and good TIMES!

NO, no one made the swim successfully and all were eaten by the BIG BAD BEARS with the exception of a few

who won low tier prizes again and again and did Psyko say again! Yes, I g... [ More ]

Comment #11

veganlife125 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:20:31 GMT

If its not won tonight it will hit 1 billion for next Saturday's draw will all the press attention.

I don't want to see any glee posts either from the people that were against the odds moving from 1 in 175 million up to 1 in 192 million. You can't have it both ways. Since moving the odds up was such a rip off according to so many of the posters back when they instituted the change stay consistent and don't buy a ticket now.

As for me i was for an even bigger increase in the odds to 1 in 40... [ More ]

Comment #10

BBLL — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:14:43 GMT

If there is a roll over tonight, we could easy see a billion dollars jackpot.

Comment #9

delS — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:13:17 GMT

My guess is $755,000,000 on saturday, provided no one wins

Comment #8

MaximumMillions — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:11:07 GMT

As much as I want to win it and want other people to win it I also want to see it shatter any and all records.

Comment #7

HoLeeKau — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:04:59 GMT

My guess is 800. I hope it rolls so we can see who's right.

Comment #6

tony869 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:54:07 GMT

If it is not won tonight it will be up to $725 Million is my guess for Sat...

Comment #5

Spiritualist — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:45:46 GMT

Like many people I was not expecting another $50 million increase.

I would be curious to know how much the jackpot will be for Saturday's drawing if no one wins tonight?

Anybody have any idea

Comment #4

lejardin — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:43:58 GMT

I agree Music, that is a scary amount to win. For some reason I dont think it will be won tonite but I do have two tickets just in case ..... Let the insomnia begin!

Good Luck everyone!

PB has been on the national news before the jump to $500 million so it may be raised again before the drawing tonite

Comment #3

ThatScaryChick — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:41:25 GMT

Got my tickets for tonight's drawing.

Comment #2

savagegoose — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:40:36 GMT

wow i didnt expect my wish on 450m pot , to keep on rolling, to be answered so soon,... keep on rollin baby

Comment #1

music* — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:19:37 GMT

I am not ashamed to admit, I am a little bit scared, What if I really do win this by myself? . My life will have to change and I will experience culture shock. Going from poor to the uber elite. The one percent life. How much security will my family and I need?

Thankfully here in California, I will be able to decline the press interview and the grip grin photo.

$500 MILLION: Powerball jackpot explodes in ticket-buying frenzy

Lottery Post — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:11:12 GMT

Become a half-billionaire!

By Todd Northrop

For the second time in the last 24 hours, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) has raised the official Powerball lottery jackpot estimate for Wednesday's drawing when sales for the mega jackpot have vastly outstripped projections.

The all-important lump-sum cash value of the jackpot has been raised to a staggering $306 million.

The newly-increased annuity and cash value jackpot amounts both remain the 6th-largest ever recorded in Unit... [ More ]