Largest Powerball jackpot in a year; 12th-largest cash value in US lottery history
By Todd Northrop
Big multi-state lottery jackpots may have been missing somewhat in 2014, but just a month into 2015 lottery players are already seeing a second massive grand prize looming.
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, February 4, 2015, now stands at $317 million — the largest jackpot for the game in nearly a year. The last time a Powerball jackpot was this large was on Feb. 19, 2014, when a Star Wars fan from California purchased the sole winning ticket for a $425.3 million Powerball jackpot. (See Sole winner of $425M February Powerball jackpot claims prize, Lottery Post, Apr. 2, 2014.)
Just a couple of weeks ago the other huge multi-state lottery game, Mega Millions, featured a $270 million grand prize that was won by a single ticket sold in Illinois. (See $270 million Mega Millions jackpot won in Illinois, Lottery Post, Jan. 18, 2015.) The prize has not been claimed yet.
Still, it's taking a good number of rollovers before the multi-state jackpots are getting into the range where even casual lottery players run out for tickets. The Powerball jackpot has rolled over 18 times from its starting point of $40 million before reaching Wednesday's level of $317 million.
Wednesday's estimated annuity payout stands as the 22nd-largest US lottery jackpot of all time. But the cash value is a different story.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is a whopping $220.6 million, putting it at number 12 on the all-time US lottery cash value list. 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.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
The winning numbers for Saturday, January 31, 2015 were 5, 11, 16, 26, and 50, with Powerball number 34. The Power Play number was 2.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 8 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 2 from Florida, 2 from Kentucky, 1 from New York, 1 from North Dakota, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The California second-prize winner will be awarded $1,430,588, because California does not award fixed prizes. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, 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. Because there was only one second-prize winner in California, that one ticket will take home the entire pool of money allocated for second prize.
None of the second-prize tickets was purchased with the Power Play option. If a second-prize ticket were purchased with the Power Play option, the prize would automatically be 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.
52 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 7 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $20,000, and 2 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth a fantastic $30,821 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $28 million from its previous amount of $289 million. The cash value was raised by $22.2 million from its previous amount of $198.4 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 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 22nd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Wednesday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Wednesday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- 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
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $326 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Powerball: $317 million, Feb. 4, 2015 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 25, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 10
- The Big Game: 2
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 12th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- 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: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- 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
- Powerball: $220.6 million cash, Feb. 4, 2015 ($317 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($326 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
- Mega Millions: $177.3 million cash, Jan. 16, 2015 ($270 million annuity) - Illinois
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Powerball: $170.5 million cash, Dec. 25, 2002 ($314.9 million annuity) - West Virginia
- Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 13
- Powerball: 11
- The Big Game: 1
I might be tempted to buy a ticket for this draw, anyone think it's going to roll again ?
I got my tickets. Good luck everyone.
personally I hope it keeps rolling till April
317M$A or 220M$C? I would take the cash - but depending on the day, I would opt for the annuity - more options for starting fresh each year. What lovely problems to have! Already in the top 25! Good luck everyone!
Just 2 more days
I bought one ticket today. Good luck everyone.
I splurged and got two lines for the next drawing.
If I don't win it, I hope someone else in here does. Well, maybe "some" of the someone else.
I'm predicting at least 10 (1 million dollar) 2nd place winners for the next drawing.
Good luck everyone! That's a lot of money.
I have one ticket for myself and 3 tickets in my office lottery pool which if won, will be shared amongst 11 people. $14million after taxes still isn't too bad.
Kudos to the Chief{Todd}. He is the King of Stats. I am pleasantly surprised about the cash value ranking of #12. I already got my 5 lines with powerplay{self pick} and 2 lines with powerplay {quick pick}. I hate to be the guy who waited till the last minute and then turn around and whine about it. I'll buy more if necessary. Happy jackpot hunting to everybody!!!
Good luck to everybody!
I will get two QP's on Wednesday. No big expectations but hoping Lady Luck will one day bless me.
good luck
Does anyone know how many number combinations their is in the powerball?? Jus curious...lol
There are 175,223,510 possible combinations.
Good luck to everyone! This is my year to collect a huge Jackpot win. Wednesday is fine with me.
Probability thinks it will roll again. It looks like MUSL is expecting to sell something under 40 million tickets. That means that only about 20% of the combinations will be sold, so there's about an 80% chance it will roll over.
It seems as though this would pretty much clinch winning something if enough tickets were sold. You could increase your percentage of the winnings by purchasing more tickets.
If so- which would be recommended?
Thanks for your input!!
Looking forward to winning!
Yippee Skippee!!
I thought you were already blessed in some depts
as for me ..... I'm gonna toss in my $2 and see what happens
so if it rolls over again tonight we could theoretically buy everyone and make a profit. interesting, anyone got bill gates number i got a proposition for him...lol jk
Time to get a power ball ticket.
:)
Actually that number is the odds chart which includes fact you could win a lower prize. if you want the real number of combinations just use a calculator and you will see that with 59*58*57*56*55*35=21,026,821,200 which is 21+Billion combinations. It's not worth even trying to play every single possible combination. PEOPLE the odds chart are just that an odds chart which includes multiple ways to win a prize. simple math can always tell you what the real number of combinations are available for any game.
Uhhhh, no.
There are 175,223,510 possible combinations. Not 21 billion.
That's what "1 in" refers to. One ticket out of 175,223,510 possible combinations.
even if you had the cash, trying to buy all 175,223,510 possible combinations would be a nightmare. You would have to go to a lottery retailer and have them print you out all those tickets. The machine or machines would have to print out tickets non-stop for days. You'd also have to make sure you are getting different number combinations and not getting any repeat combinations so you'd have all possible combinations covered.
After all that, there is no guarantee you would be the only winner. If there is another winning ticket sold, you'd have to split the jackpot in half.
Sorry, but there are 175,223,510 combinations not 21 billion combinations. Your simple math is wrong.
With the current Powerball matrix, there are 59 white balls and 35 power balls. In order to win the jackpot you would need to match all 5 white balls drawn plus match the one red powerball that will be picked.
For the 5 white balls there are 5,006,386 combinations that can be drawn, then you have to multiply 5,006,386 by 35 based on the 35 possible powerballs that can be drawn which takes you to 175,223,510 possible combinations.
Trying to beat 1 in 175,223,510 possible combinations is bad but no where near as bad as trying to beat 1 in 21 BILLION.
I hope it rolls over just to see how high it will go...Best of "lady Luck" to all my LP friends...Be Safe
apparently you people still don't get it. "1in #####" is an ODDS CHART! not true numbers. i can prove it you another way. look at the bottom prize hitting only the power ball. The chart says the odds are 1in55 ok then why is that since there are only 35 power balls. its because you could JUST MAYBE win a higher prize by getting one or more white balls with that power ball. ENOUGH SAID!
lol You are still wrong.
The total number of possible Powerball ticket combinations is
59 x 58 x 57 x 56 x 55
------------------------------ x 35 = 175,223,510
5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
or
( (59*58*57*56*55)*35 )/ (5!) = ( (59*58*57*56*55)*35 )/ (5*4*3*2*1) = equals 175,223,510 combinations.
Therefore, the odds AND number of combinations are 1 in 175,223,510
For every winning jackpot ticket, there are 34 other tickets that have the five white balls correct, but not the the powerball. Thus, the odds of winning the $1,000,000 lottery prize are 34 out of 175,223,510, or 1 out of 5,153,633.
As far as combinations are concerned when the drawing begins there are 59 balls in the machine so you have 59 possibilities of what comes out. Once the first ball is drawn then you have 58 left, 2nd ball drawn you have 57 left, 3rd Ball drawn you have 56 left, 4 ball drawn you have 55 left, so in that simple true look at the numbers you get my first result of 59*58*57*56*55=600,766,320 then you have to add the 35 power combo's to that number and get the 21+billion. I know the odds chart says 175+million but thats not based on real number of combinations. gambling institutions (lottery included) use this method to make things look better than they really are for the player. try looking up the odd chart formula in wikipedia then maybe you would understand it better.
i know what you are doing and it's call doing the odds chart calculations using #/1 method which is how odds charts are made.
Everybody already know their odds of losing, you aren't telling anyone anything they don't already. Your information is totally worthless.
Ima Got My Tickets!
Hoping it rolls over too, $420,000,000.00 Then send me the money,,,,
We get it. You're a clueless idiot.
Aside from not knowing what a combination is, you're not even bright enough to figure out that having a handful of winners every year means that 21 billion combinations couldn't possibly be right.
On the positive side, maybe you could get a modeling job as the poster child for the "lottery is for people who don't understand math" campaign.
i hope somebody (me) lol wins the lottery this weds or saturday msyb even next weds but thats it cus thats enough money for one person. i dont it to go high 400ish or more its too much money!! lol. i like playing when its 100 to 300 something milliion
If the sales are about the same as for the last $317 million jackpot (about 50 million tickets) and about a 29% chance of being won.
I gots mine too!! Some for me!! Some for the office pool to share!!
But I'll take tonight's Megamillions as a consolation prize.
im so excited that the drawing is today!!! good luck everyonne. i hope it rolls over until saturday if i dont win today(:
Yea this will get crazy if it rolls!
Any chemistry students in LP? Chemical elements have an atomic number assigned to them
Last power ball winning numbers were:
05- Boron
11- Sodium
16- Sulfur
26- Iron
50- Tin
34- Selenium
Yeah, we all know the game is a random event but it was interesting to see which elements were randomly selected.
To claim there are 21+ billion combinations in the Powerball lottery is insane. The population of the US is about 320 million people.
So even if every man, woman and child in the United States bought a lottery ticket and you had a 100% participation in the lottery, that would only account for about 320 million out of the 21+ billion combinations you are claiming.
It would take years for anyone to win the jackpot and each jackpot rollover would be over 300+ million dollars annuity for each rollover.
The jackpot would skyrocket to over a billion dollars annuity after only 4 rollovers!!!!!
What am I going to do with my $157,949,600 after taxes?
As far as combinations are concerned it is 59C5=5,006,386*35=175,223,510
As far as permutations are concerned it is 59P5=600,766,320*35=2.10268212*10^10
In Powerball you do NOT have to match them in the order they come out of the machine so the odd are 175,223,510 to 1
The same thing I am going to do with my net $165,450,000 lol. Good Luck!
You mean what is the winner going to do with his/her, mostly likely his $157,949,600 after taxes. Ever wonder why mostly men claim the really big jackpots? Usually there's a woman tagging along when he does claim it. I would like to see a women claim it with a man tagging along when she claimed it.
It more then likely won't roll too many times if it isn't won tonight. Speaking of wins, I wonder what state the winner will be in.
This is from the Powerball website: http://www.powerball.com/pb_contact.asp#odds
"Federal and State Income tax apply to whatever income you actually receive in a given tax year, whether it is wages or lottery prizes. If you take the cash amount (say $50 million), then you pay income tax on $50 million) - most of it at the highest tax rate. If you take the annuity (say $100 million), then you pay income tax on the money you actually receive each year - moving more of the money to lower tax rates. Just like your wages, a withholding amount is required to be taken out immediately. The lottery will send you a W2-G form and you figure your actual tax at tax time."
If you win tonight, you will get $165,450,000 after the 25% tax withholding. When they send a W2-G form you'll soon figure out, you will owe more taxes because the top tax rate is 39.6% on income over $400,000 if you are filing single or $450,000 if you are married filing jointly.
This is just the federal income tax, depending in which state you live in, you will owe even more in state income tax.
If I were the lucky winner you can bet my husband would be tagging right along
$360 million if no winner tonight.
My money's on the Golden State. Matter of fact, I bet $20 on PB tickets with the hope the winner will be me. Good luck to everyone playing tonight.
I barely post here, but I had to log in and post to tell you how dumb you are. 21 billion..hahaha. Moron, there would be a winner only once every several years then.
$360 million up for grabs for next Saturday's drawing.
Holy Molie.....It rolled
Off the bat I have two issues with your premise
2/5/15
To all the "Roll Over" fans, the Power Ball game for next drawing on 2/7/15 has grown to a whopping $360M.
The news last night from Philadelphia T.V. showing some machines have broken down,more than once at one location, from heavy use.
You would think that there would be some up grading of the equipment by the states involved.
Have been in a few retailers who have two machines because of the heavy lottery traffic to their establishment's.
Good Luck is coming eventually to one or more players, but don't be surprised if it rolls over again.
Probably at first they would be in the state of shock.
Explanation here of calculation.
Powerball calculated odds
let it roll to $450 million
I though it be 380-420 on the rollover, maybe there going announce increase tomorrow to sell more tickers..
Keep Rolling
Share it with someone deserving person