$700 MILLION: Powerball lottery jackpot raised just hours after initial estimate

Comment #151

sirbrad — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 02:50:21 GMT

How did that go? Lol.

Comment #150

Artist77 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 23:50:00 GMT

Omg lol lol

Comment #149

sirbrad — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 19:49:38 GMT

With that amount of money inflation is not going to mean crap. My biggest expense will be my house and then I am done. I will be set for life after the first year. Sometimes annuities go up in value also. I used to work at a bank and have been self-employed now for 25 years so I know all about how to manage money and invest it if I want to. I make a great income and already have a pretty large savings. Also I have no heirs just me, myself and I. So I am tailor-made for the win. Taxes and interes... [ More ]

Comment #148

mypiemaster — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:39:17 GMT

Cash value $496M. Why all the tease?. Why not just make it one billy $1B and get it over with?.

Comment #147

thePharaoh — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:29:29 GMT

800 M

Comment #146

BBLL — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:21:51 GMT

800 millions

Comment #145

HoLeeKau — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:21:08 GMT

Ohhh the cash value's going over half a billion, isn't it. That's almost scary

Comment #144

RedStang — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:19:59 GMT

It will be a lot higher. Today and Tomorrows sales are going to be insane. Possible 900.

Comment #143

Todd — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:10:57 GMT

By the way, Powerball just increased to $800 million

Comment #142

Todd — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:09:57 GMT

141 comments on this one thread in less than 24 hours seems pretty normal, considering the number of Powerball news stories posted within the last couple of days.

Comment #141

HoLeeKau — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 15:54:56 GMT

I'll be happy if it makes it to around $820M because that would make for a half a billion cash value. I could live with that.

Comment #140

Redd55 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 15:32:56 GMT

My observation is less new players but as you noted people forking over big bucks buying tickets. Except for the Three Amigos, it seems like the big time lottery winners bought 5-10 tickets and still won. So, there is still hope for us yet.

Comment #139

Long Odds — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 15:16:02 GMT

My observation of the rapid escalation in the jackpot amount over the lead up to the past two drawings s is twofold. Obvious in the way customers are asking for tickets is that they've never played before so attracting new (or very infrequent) players at these jackpot amounts. But more startlingly is people are playing big dollars- so frequent in stores to hear- $20, $30, $50, and $100 requests for Powerball tickets; just crazy dollar amounts requested in tickets. I'll play a couple of self pick... [ More ]

Comment #138

gocart1 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 15:12:56 GMT

It's odd . I don't know if anyone else notice , but when the jackpots got huge a few years ago , there was something like 30 pages of comments about it.. And it was only 300 to 500 million for the jackpot.. I just wonder if a lot of people are not playing anymore..

Todd , any toughts

Comment #137

jjtheprince — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 14:04:40 GMT

Yeah, no one will even bother to pay attention to whoever wins that. It's small potatoes ya know! LOL

Comment #136

AbsolutelyFun — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 12:15:22 GMT

You have to admire this guy's sense of humor as he looked serious when he answered her question but then he turned and looked at the camera for just a split second with a smile on his face.

If she asked me, my reply would've been, If I win the jackpot it will be just YOU and ME baby, just YOU and ME!

That would have had her blushing.

Comment #135

infiniti30 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 12:08:23 GMT

The same thing could happen with the annuity, it is dependent on investments to grow. 30 years is a long time. The way things are going now you take the money and run.

Comment #134

Guru101 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 11:00:53 GMT

I think we will see another bump by the end of the day

Comment #133

savagegoose — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 09:56:26 GMT

oh and im gonna win mega millions tonight and avoid all the attention

Comment #132

savagegoose — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 07:40:29 GMT

it will be that english couple, waiting all this time to actually get revenge for that glitch

Comment #131

music* — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 07:01:21 GMT

I hope that you are young enough to live another 30 years. You will need insurance to pay the death tax on the remainder of the annuity. Otherwise, you will leave an estate nightmare for your heirs.

Inflation might eat away your nest egg.

Hope for lower taxes and higher interest rates. You will need to ask about how the interest rate might remain the same throughout the thirty years.

Happy dreaming

Comment #130

sirbrad — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 06:34:19 GMT

I would take the annuity, that way you do not have to worry about where you are going to put all that money, bad investments and banks going under etc. My life will be set after the first year, and I will have millions in payments coming for 29 more years which is all just gravy.

Comment #129

VenomV12 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 06:09:58 GMT

Ha Ha Ha this was great.

Comment #128

Coin Toss — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:30:35 GMT

The winner will be a time traveler from the year 2029 who will disappear at the press conference right after saying, You won't see another one like this for quite a few years.

Comment #127

quicksloth35 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:10:44 GMT

That's the one. Thanks for that, I have no idea of how to post video like that.

Comment #126

sirbrad — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:08:00 GMT

I hope to win the Megamillions the night before so I remain completely anonymous.

Comment #125

hsg2000 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:01:35 GMT

I will look forward when you hold the winning check! GoodLuck

Comment #124

sirbrad — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 04:59:13 GMT

Smart guy, he got rid of the media REALLY fast. Ima say that at the press conference lol. OK folks press conference is over! I bet she would be first in line.

Comment #123

whiteballz — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 04:54:01 GMT

You mean this video

Comment #122

sirbrad — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 04:33:00 GMT

Nah, that kills the appeal. There are smaller jackpots for that. Also would kill sales as they do not want that many people becoming millionaires so they keep playing. It would be good but winning almost a billion dollars would be MUCH better and generates way more buzz and sales. There are already tons of lower jackpot games. I would not complain with a 2nd prize in the several millions but the $700 million is what makes me want to play as I already play other games with those smaller amounts.

Comment #121

dpoly1 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 04:04:53 GMT

One Ticket

One Person

That will drive the Sanders Crowd even more looney LOL

Comment #120

Murgatroyd — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:53:32 GMT

Sounds good to me.

Comment #119

quicksloth35 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:46:43 GMT

Have any of you seen the video of the guy who was asked questions by a live reporter when he was filling out his Powerball sheets? Look up: Reporter didn't expect this response after being asked what he'd do if he won $500 million. Made me LOL

Comment #118

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:43:33 GMT

I'm with you. In addition to the money I would donate to charity id gladly offer up a lottery on here if I won the jackpot. I'd give away two prizes of $1mill each raffle style. I have no idea how this would be done but would ask the lp

administrators for help in making it happen. :).

Comment #117

Poo Nanny — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:38:22 GMT

I only want it to roll over to 1 billion if I don't have the winning numbers on Saturday. If it gets there before that I will take that too. I am going to guess it gets to $911,000,000 and I will win it alone. One can hope!

On a side note, if I do win I will give someone on here $500,000. I won't miss it and it could help someone out big time! Good luck everyone

Comment #116

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:30:07 GMT

I really think they will be announcing a raise in the value tomorrow...

Comment #115

maximumfun — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:23:41 GMT

You know... I'm somehow disappointed that the pot hasnt been raised again today.

Comment #114

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:04:13 GMT

Waves hi to Teddi! :-)

i so love Alpharetta! And yes I hope you get to buy your dream place up here! :-) I'm hoping for some big wins for us peeps out here in the burbs! Lol

Avalon is awesome! The homes they are building in there are nice but it is even nicer that you can walk everywhere. It is truly a mini city with a grocery store, shops, restaurants, and the movie theatre and common areas. It is really well planned and a great place :-).

I love Roswell too! So many cool places on C... [ More ]

Comment #113

BBLL — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:00:40 GMT

Comment #112

Bleedblue21 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:59:08 GMT

Guaranteed we're gonna see AT LEAST an $850 mil jackpot by Saturday. Would love to see it hit the $1 BILL mark though !!!

Good Luck Everyone

Comment #111

noise-gate — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:52:05 GMT

Point taken Teddi, but l will summit to you that there has been quite a few 2-3 way splits involving massive jackpots and those folks turned out just fine...as far as we know. Edwards Holmes * sounds like a Law firm, are an exception and definitely not the rule. In any event considering that millions of people are attempting to win- getting a piece of the pie can't be too bad as opposed to getting none at all.

Btw, how does one find this morally responsible person who ends up with $800 millio... [ More ]

Comment #110

Suzy-Dittlenose — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:39:07 GMT

Comment #109

BBLL — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:37:54 GMT

No bueno . Say no to

Comment #108

nist7seven — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:36:29 GMT

I highly doubt there will be another rollover. I guess its possible since the odds have increased so much.

But with so many ticket buyers I suspect there may be at least 1 or multiple winners.

But yeah IF it rolls over again on saturday?......yeah billion jackpot here we come

Comment #107

Groppo — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:20:41 GMT

Please, if you are the sole winner, could you see your way to part with at least .5 of it? It would go towards a truck and a modest house.

Please, any/all players, I just need one helping hand of .5 million dollars (half a million dollars) total, of this enormous jackpot, if you are the sole winner.

Please think of how many people will not win anything. I can't help thinking how one of them will be me, like usual.

Comment #106

Romancandle — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:18:34 GMT

Second that...

50-50 chance for another rollover...

CrAzY.......

Comment #105

Teddi — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:12:21 GMT

I have no idea how I missed the haircut connection but now it's stuck in my head.

My absolute fave was the one where they had him on with Cynthia. Every piece of advice he gave Cynthia had done the exact opposite and won more than he ever did. Best part was when the camera guy burst out laughing. Couldn't have scripted it any better myself.

Comment #104

nist7seven — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:11:47 GMT

I firmly think it will increase at least twice and I suspect it will get over 900million....

Comment #103

Teddi — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:07:06 GMT

Hey CrazyJaney:

I see you live in my favorite burb. LOVE LOVE LOVE Alpharetta. Just so happens my dream home AND my back up dream home are in Alpharetta too so that's convenient. I'd been eyeballing this place in Roswell, but just don't like Roswell as much. Worked in Alpharetta for a while, and the only downside is actually getting to it. Pleasant Hill Rd has to be the least pleasant road ever made. I was stuck on it during that snow ah hem storm couple years ago.

Heard Avalon is finished... [ More ]

Comment #102

Groppo — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:03:26 GMT

Yes, I can see that. It is mass insanity:

Mass insanity, mass insanity, mass insanity.

No new contracts. There is now a mass insanity clause.

You say you don't believe in sanity clause?

(the line was borrowed (more or less), from an old Marx Brothers movie

Comment #101

Thegreenpirate — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:55:27 GMT

My guides in the heavens tells me one sole winner in the state of Arizona will win $1,000,300,000.00

Comment #100

Thegreenpirate — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:51:26 GMT

You gonna buy Rolling Acres Mall? I think that's Stephen

Comment #99

Spiritualist — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:47:13 GMT

My college years are way behind me so my knowledge of Probability and Statistics is limited.

Nevertheless thank you for these informative and insightful posts. I enjoy them very much.

Thank you.

Comment #98

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:45:17 GMT

I love the comments in this thread ! Lol

Comment #97

dognabit — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:43:12 GMT

Just giving you guys a heads up. I have every intention on winning, so if you could cut out the middle man and send me your money.

I would be most appreciative.

Thanks.

Comment #96

maximumfun — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:35:33 GMT

no lines in Barrington RI, Warren RI, Bristol RI, Middletown RI (only places I went today

Comment #95

Gleno — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:33:25 GMT

01/07/16

No lines at the 711 on Main St. in Marlton, NJ today.

Guess most folks wait until last minute to buy those red hot tickets.

Good Luck LP Players

Comment #94

Prob988 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:33:18 GMT

The probabilities for various numbers of winners at a $700M annuity jackpot: The Texas lottery website indicates that the revenue expected on this drawing (at this level is $351,835,913. (I doubt the accuracy of their prediction, especially the last 6 digits, but no matter...)

This would amount to half that number in tickets sold. If the ticket selection were totally random, and this proved to be the actual number of tickets sold, the Poisson distribution for the probability of various number... [ More ]

Comment #93

Teddi — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:13:22 GMT

People always ignore the fact that Gates isn't giving up his multi-million dollar compound and all the other billionaire toys and creature comforts the rest of us will never experience. He wants to go down as one of the greatest philanthropists and he will. He hasn't downsized his incredible lifestyle to do so. About 90% of what this country considers necessary to live and function in the way they've become accustomed is not required to live. It's just stuff that makes life more comfortable and... [ More ]

Comment #92

Todd — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:10:41 GMT

I couldn't agree more.

Comment #91

MaximumMillions — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:01:40 GMT

Of course he would, as would Buffet and Oprah and Ellison and all the people who say they will donate their money at some point close to their death. They typically put it into some kind of charitable foundation that they still have access to.

Comment #90

Bleudog101 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:55:22 GMT

I too enjoy that showing folks buying tickets; my favorite is Primm Lotto store in CA showing long lines of Las Vegans buying their tickets.

Comment #89

noise-gate — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:53:22 GMT

It's an Opinion Max, nothing more.Btw- Gates would disagree with you.

Comment #88

BuyLow — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:50:32 GMT

So painful to hear the lame stream media talk about large Jackpots as they really have NO clue, every other word is incorrect. PLEASE have experts like TODD on to explain this correctly.

Comment #87

RJOh — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:49:49 GMT

It would be terrible to buy that many tickets and not match at least three white balls or the powerball.

Comment #86

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:49:37 GMT

Also I want to add this is a perfect time to discuss a new party platform. Lottery winnings should not be taxed since in theory you are buying tickets with dollars you have already been taxed on... Discuss... Lol

Comment #85

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:48:00 GMT

And the comments about lustig have me lol

Comment #84

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:47:08 GMT

The media frenzy will be fun to watch. That is for sure

Comment #83

MaximumMillions — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:45:35 GMT

I hear a lot of people bitching all the time and I don't care. :P You still have Raymond Buxton with his 425M$.

And Gates and his companions pledge is pie in the sky.

Tally ho! / Happy hunting

Comment #82

gocart1 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:45:12 GMT

That would be so cool to win all that ..LOL..

Comment #81

VenomV12 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:42:09 GMT

I know I said I just wanted the million dollar second prize and quietly disappear but screw that now, I want to be the first person in history to win a billion dollar jackpot.

Comment #80

noise-gate — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:41:44 GMT

..especially when he shows up with his Julie Andrews - Sound of Music haircut.

Comment #79

Teddi — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:37:31 GMT

I don't care. Any day they cover a big jackpot and they don't feature Richard Lustig giving his asinine advice , I count that as a victory for lottery reporting.

Comment #78

noise-gate — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:27:32 GMT

Frell you Max. Even Bill Gates w/ his Billions sees the light. Many want $700 million, but no one person needs .. that much to survive. Get a load of this : California contributes the Lion's share to most jackpots- but you hardly ever hear us bit.h...ng about losing to say Iowa. In a word : shut your pie hole.

Comment #77

Bleudog101 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:17:59 GMT

If not won Saturday I foresee a trip up 71 N to Ohio since there winners can remain anonymous. Can't do that in Kentucky, but if I won here, that's OK...an LLC would be on the list of must do's.

Comment #76

lejardin — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:17:53 GMT

I just went and got some tickets and was talking to the clerks, I asked how the sales have been and they said oh ugh, it has been nuts and nonstop. Yesterday their particular store sold over $2000 dollars worth. One clerk was glad tomorrow is the last day for her, she gets off Saturday, said she sure wouldnt want to be working that day!

Exciting days right now!

Good Luck Everyone.

Comment #75

L J1 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:16:11 GMT

One BILLION dollar Jackpot

Comment #74

L J1 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:15:18 GMT

I think it will happen.

Comment #73

mypiemaster — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:07:23 GMT

They might as well jack it up to 1 billy and get it over it. I'm sure some people will sell their first born, figuratively speaking, just to get in the $1B game.

Comment #72

crazyjaney — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:02:58 GMT

Oh that is a pet peeve of mine too! Also some people have won multiple times. Lol. Just sayin'. :-). How about a little positivity? As our lottery slogan here in ga says Today could be the day

Comment #71

Bleudog101 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:56:13 GMT

Thank you NBC news for just reporting the Powerball jackpot sans negative aspects i.e. greater chance of getting hit by lightning, etc. Just once I wish they would report say on the amount of millionaires it has created over the past five years. No, that would be a feel good story that wouldn't sell too well.

Comment #70

BBLL — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:55:20 GMT

That a long time to wait, when you have a clean record

Comment #69

MaximumMillions — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:35:45 GMT

Pinko.

Comment #68

noise-gate — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:34:56 GMT

Three way split..

Comment #67

crazyjaney — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:28:33 GMT

Analyzing past draw results, looking for trends, patterns, or at least organizing selected numbers i.e. Wheeling. Not everyone is a fan of wheeling though.

Comment #66

Arrowhead — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:27:03 GMT

What other 'strategy' could she possibly need

Comment #65

morgothaod — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:26:01 GMT

Read my signature

Comment #64

crazyjaney — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:23:14 GMT

Gotcha.

Just want to point something out to you though- you could have wheeled all 26 power balls 9 times for $500 guaranteeing that you would at least hit $36.

Comment #63

Suzy-Dittlenose — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:18:53 GMT

30+ days. They do a background check on you to see if you have any back taxes due, missed child support payments, unpaid driving tickets, etc....if so, they deduct that from your winnings before you get your money.

Comment #62

HoLeeKau — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:12:58 GMT

Not all states require a press conference. Idaho doesn't. I believe Illinois encourages their winners to do one, but you can get out of it if you really want to.

In Illinois, big jackpot winners are compelled to make themselves public to prove the lottery is paying out its prizes something that wasn't done decades ago when such games of chance were scams, Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones said. Though the lottery could insist winners do a news conference, Jones said officials off... [ More ]

Comment #61

Suzy-Dittlenose — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:12:07 GMT

Most were quick picks. Some were specific numbers above 31. I don't play birthday numbers.

Comment #60

crazyjaney — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:06:22 GMT

Rock on! I admit to fantasing more about how I could have fun at the press conference than the actual dinero. Lol

Comment #59

Ron5995 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:05:40 GMT

Hope it works out for you. Presumably, you bought 250 tickets without Powerplay. With the jackpot odds being 1 in ~292 million, your combined odds of winning is still a far out 1 in ~1.17 million. Even hitting 2nd place, which pays $1 million (except California) with 250 tickets is 1 in 46,752. More realistic, but still a huge long-shot. Good luck!

Personally, I bought two tickets with Powerplay, since hitting 2nd place is 25 times more likely than 1st. That extra $1 million will come in hand... [ More ]

Comment #58

crazyjaney — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:04:03 GMT

I hope you wheeled these with a strategy?? I'm not opposed to playing big wheels with a strategy but playing $500 of quick picks is probably not the way to go.

Comment #57

dpoly1 — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:02:42 GMT

I am thinking about getting an extra ticket for this .........

Comment #56

Polarshark — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:54:06 GMT

its best to look at previous drawings and determine from there, like i know that 3 consecutives are possible and shouldn't be ruled out, having patterns like 14 24 34 or 1 low number and 4 high, numbers, powerball is anyones guess

I don't think i can ever justify spending $500 on just a single draw alone, I would expect that money to last for a year of draws.

Comment #55

BBLL — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:53:21 GMT

How long is the press conference when you win the powerball and how be for I receive my money

Comment #54

RJOh — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:48:49 GMT

Did you have a strategy other than a bunch of quick picks

Comment #53

KY Floyd — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:48:36 GMT

You should vote on the rules by not buying any tickets when the jackpot is more than $500 million.

Comment #52

Suzy-Dittlenose — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:42:24 GMT

I splurged and spent $500 on PB tickets this morning! It's the most I've ever spent on lottery tickets. At 10 am there were 7 people in line to buy tickets. I thought I was the only smart one. Don't wait until the last minute when the terminals will be overloaded and shut down.

I've also made a list of friends who will be part of a Trust if one of my tickets win the big jackpot.

Cha-ching