By Todd Northrop
As Winter approaches and temperatures cool throughout much of the United States, the multi-state Powerball lottery game is trying to keep things hot.
For the fourth time in 2016, a Powerball jackpot has exceeded $300 million and has entered into the top 25 US jackpots of all time.
The new high-water mark of $359 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $333.5 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $219.6 million — the 17th-largest ever recorded in United States lottery history. (See top 25 annuity and cash values below.)
Players looking to calculate what they would receive after the initial federal and state tax withholdings can find it all pre-calculated for each Powerball jurisdiction on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
The mammoth prize up for grabs on Wednesday is the result of 18 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on Sept. 21.
The last Powerball jackpot that was won was a $246.8 million grand prize drawn on Sept. 17 and claimed two weeks later by a Georgia couple. (See Georgia couple claim $246.8 million Powerball jackpot, Lottery Post, Oct. 6, 2016.)
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. This happened in Saturday's drawing, which was estimated to be $320 million, but ended up as a $333.5 million grand prize by the time all proceeds were counted right before draw time Saturday night.
The winning numbers for Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, were 16, 24, 28, 43, and 61, with Powerball number 21. The Power Play number was 2.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 1 lucky player from Michigan matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize.
The Michigan player did not purchase the Power Play option, which would have automatically doubled their payout to $2,000,000. Power Play is available in all Powerball jurisdictions except California for an extra $1 per play. The fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's mandated pari-mutuel payouts. 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.
23 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 3 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $100,000, and 3 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $24,830 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $25.5 million from its previous amount of $333.5 million. The cash value was raised by $9.1 million from its previous amount of $210.5 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, the second prize amount doubles to $2,000,000, and all other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Power Play number randomly drawn that evening.
A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers 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, Puerto Rico, 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 18th-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.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- 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: $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
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- 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: $359 million, Nov. 23, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 8
- 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 17th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- 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
- 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
- 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: $219.6 million cash, Nov. 23, 2016 ($359 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 ($321 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
Last Wednesday I woke up and correctly predicted $320 million.
Couldn't think of what it had climbed to as the #'s didn't sound too promising this morning.
Is it my imagination or do big jackpots seem to come around Holiday time (sans $1.6 billion Powerball!).
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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Congratulations to nobody, yet.
Sure do hope at least part of it, is reserved for me.
LETS SEE IF IT WILL BREAK THE RECORD OF 1.5 BILLION.AFTER ALL , RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE
In the past few roll overs the annuity value has far outpaced the cash value. It was close to 70% now the past two have been about 50% od the annuity value.
They are simply trying to inflate the annuity value but most people only care about the cash value.
I'd rather Win It than Watch It Grow to Some Record Jackpot Size!
I noticed that Andrew Jackson "Jack" Whittaker is no longer on the top 25. His tragic life story is available here on Lottery Post using the Search box. One memorable quote from him is, "Do not give any of it away because once you start then there is not stopping it."
I ask myself, "How did Jack's generosity help me?" It had no effect on me. He lost his money trying to help and change the world. He failed in his mission.
You cannot make everyone's dreams come true. You will not have enough winnings to accomplish that noble goal.
Going to look at every combo, number strategy. I predict either my bday, new years or early next yr 3 winning tickets
Interesting how people start talking about the all-time record jackpot once the current jackpot enters the Top 25......
One jackpot out of 2567 sits as the record holder and we have the belief that it will be met or broken in just a short time!
Right now we are only 1 standard deviation from the mean in terms of hit probability; I will be withholding my excitement until 3 or more (5-6 weeks)
I hope the jackpot continues to roll until one lucky ticket matches all 5 numbers plus the Powerball worth over $1.5864 billion!
LottoMetro, When the jackpot gets to these highs there are rumblings among the populace. More players are beginning to put more money on the line.
I agree with you withholding your uncontrolled excitement till a few more draws.
These jackpots are there for the taking. Good Luck!
I could use a nice win like this
My furnace stopped working last month when I was in the hospital, and now I am very cold .............
I was really hoping that people would be in the holiday mood and start buying up tickets....
People are still traumatized it seems from what they may have spent for january 13the draw
They are all waiting for it to hit 600 or 750 million before they decide to buy them up in droves
Not your imagination, jackpots for the past few holiday seasons have hit very large levels and in most cases created buying frenzy among both, the regular players as well as rare participants.
l personally volunteer to win this jackpot to prove that a lottery Post member can pull it off.
If you had been watching the markets since Trump won the presidency and the Fed rate hike in December becoming more certain, you would know that it's because interest rates have climbed considerably over the past two weeks.
You are correct Bleudog! Jackpots do tend to swell up around the holidays. Check out what I found for you:
PB - $1.5864B, won on 1/13/16 (built up from 11/5/15 to 1/13/16, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
MM - $165M, won on 1/8/16 (built up from 11/14/15 to 1/8/16, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
PB - $564M, won on 2/11/15 (built up from 11/29/14 to 2/11/15, Christmas, New Years).
MM - $265M, won on 1/16/15 (built up from 11/5/14 to 1/16/15, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
MM - $648M, won on 12/17/13 (built up from 10/2/13 to 12/17/13, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
PB - $580M, won on 11/28/12 (built up from 10/4/12 to 11/28/12, Halloween, Thanksgiving).
MM - $208M, won on 12/27/11 (built up from 11/2/11 to 12/27/11, Thanksgiving, Christmas).
PB - $128M, won on 12/24/11 (built up from 11/20/11 to 12/24/11, Thanksgiving, Christmas).
MM - $308M, won on 1/4/11 (built up from 11/10/10 to 1/4/11, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
Good luck to you this Holiday Season!!!!
The pots used to rise during the summer, for the past few years its been
around the holidays. I don't know if its the peoples mindset that makes
them play more during these times, or the lottery officials having
some kind of hand in it....
Thinking about doing me some potblocking this coming Wednesday.
hearsetrax, A very beautiful penciled art work. Good Luck to you!
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Music*,
Did hearsetrax draw that? That is impressive. I like kitty cats.
Groppo
Thank you golfer1960; time for New Jersey to get back in the thick of things and start hitting some jackpots again.
Checked my Indiana tickets on the way to the casino, all said 'Sorry, not a winner'. I was able to cash out $500 @ the casino for a change!
Have a great week/Holiday.
Jeffrey
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Dpoly1,
That sounds harsh. You're in PA too, where it gets unimaginably cold.
They should have some kind of thing, where they provide you portable heaters and stoves and such.
Groppo
Groppo, I do not know who drew the pretty kitty cat. sorry. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
music*
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Mr./Ms. Toronto,
I never understood the posted amounts.
Like we see on Usamega.com (the "hover over" amount displayed).
What you're saying is the first thing I've heard that sort of makes sense, BUT, I never thought things like Trump being elected had anything to do with it. Or anything Federal for that matter. Yes, Yes, I know, that there have been tax discussions and so on, on here but I really had no idea.
I'm not a tax person, and any clues I get on such matters, come from here.
I wonder if it would be asking Todd too much to post a special article on the how/why the posted annuity value differs from the cash value. I don't want to ask him myself. He may be too busy.
Groppo
Appreciate the past feedback. Only a matter of time someone hits this.
I will take the $2 million since I got powerplay on my ticket today.-weshar75
The cash value is the REAL jackpot. They post the annuity for the jackpot because it looks better, it's bigger.
To get the annuity amount, they take whatever the cash value is and calculate the percentage based on the current interest rate. The annuity is the amount the cash value is worth with interest over a 30 year period.
I probably didn't explain it very well. Frankly, most people choose the cash, and I always choose the cash when I buy my tix. In Texas we have to make the choice when we buy our tix, unlike other states.
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield
you can see how rates moved following the election. Sometimes market participants cannot just put on Federal Reserve bets when something as big as an election is looming, so it occurs the day after. You can see the 10-year benchmark moved 19 basis points the day after the election.
The markets believed Trump would create more volatility in the markets, but his victory speech was conciliatory, so the concern has dissipated and the focus turns to the Fed's decision in December.
Good luck to all!!!
That's a lesson that I learned a few years ago especially the interest rate. The problem is your average Joe doesn't quite get that. Some people I see around here in Philly need to be educated better and they're not. All they see is the bigger number.
Those same people are probably in grey areas and watching every nickel and dime.
I hope I can figure out at least 4 or 5 numbers. That would be nice.
While I know how the annuity and lump sum work....I only focus on the big number.
I won't lie.....that is what grabs my attention and that is what gets me excited just like those people you have pigeon holed into gray areas.
We all have different motivations....and there are two sides to a coin....I chose not to sweat the small details. if I will big or small I am set.....but honestly , the bigger the better
I checked out the powerball sites and 28, 61 came out twice. No way those are coming out again. 16 came out of course. The numbers being drawn look so simple but of course we all know there could be different combos.
I see a 41 coming out and maybe 16 again but could be wrong.
dpoly1, Congratulations for being discharged from a hospital alive. Most Hospitals discourage lengthy amounts of time in a hospital. Too many viruses.
I hope you will soon have a warm Holiday Season!
As a Veteran Lottery Post member, you deserve to win this Top 25 jackpot.
I have enjoyed your posts.
music*
wish I was as talented as some people think I am .... jejejeje
but sadly that cat pic is one of millions out thar floating about in cyberspace
get better soon,Dpoly1 and I'm glad you made it out of the Hospital alive
nasty places indeed ....
music*
It's not the viruses that get you in the hospitals, it is bacteria. The scary one is necrotizing fascititis (flesh eating bacteria). We had one kid who lost both legs, 1 arm and 1/2 the other and another kid lost both feet and hands.
On a positive note, Massachusetts' semi-annual lottery sale is in effect until 7 JAN 17; this time around I'm getting L4L as the others haven't done a darn thing.
Bleudog101, Thank You for the correction. Simple bacteria, who would have thought? Scary indeed!
Nice!
Thanks!
I wonder if Trump will be lowering the lottery tax rate from it's current 39.6% to .....perhaps 10%......or zero.
Trump will be lowering the corporate tax rate to 15% and there is a good chance he will be lowering the income tax rate as well, I have heard the top tier tax rate will be anywhere from 15-33% so we will all have to wait and see.
maybe you buy more tickekets it will get there faster
Just imagine what you will do with all this money! How will your life be changed forever?
Most of us have been playing and praying for a win like this. What now when your ship comes in?
All of your dreams will come true!
Be safe and win soon!
cbr$, that would the ultimate Thanksgiving treat...a big win from Powerball and an egg in the face to your legislatures for not putting the lottery on the ballot. Don't eat too much.
If nobody wins Wednesday night's Powerball drawing, the jackpot for the next drawing will be worth $403 Million dollars
Good luck to everyone!!!
I hope if a LP'r hits the JP... They tell us about it.
LiveInGreenBay, If a LP'r hits the JP then that person may want to wait until after claiming and maybe after collecting the check. I would be concerned enough that I will limit the number of persons who know at different stages. Be patient. Good Luck!!
I agree. I think it would be wise to get your funds and actually get yourself situated BEFORE mentioning a word of it to anybody other than your husband/wife. That means keeping everybody else including your parents, kids, best friend. This is a life changer and should be treated with a concerted effort on your end.
Here we go $403 mill. Gimme it
The excitement is building; can hardly wait until Todd posts where this lottery is on the lottery hall of fame list.
Happy Thanksgiving LP members!
$403,000,000
Happy Thanksgiving
remember to eat an extra helping for those currently serving over seas
and Pets get the leftovers
hearsetrax, Thank You for remembering our service men and women who are overseas and away from their families this Thanksgiving.
Always be careful about giving human food to pets. Especially chocolate.
Power Ball's ATTH for CA and TX stands at $147,255,200.00 ATTH stands for After Tax Take Home.
Your check will be for $182,850,000.00 What a beautiful New Year a Lottery Post winner will have!
I'm curious: How did you predict the correct amount of the roll over?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL ESPECIALLY TOO OUR VETERANS, THOSE STILL SERVING AND THEIR FAMILIES.
The Holidays are very hard at our house we only started celebrating again these last couple of year's & that's because my eldest Granddaughter is getting older, everyone closest to us passed day before Turkey Day & right after Christmas a yr apart.
THIS YEAR for the HOLIDAYS we're going to HIT THE BIG ONE, I Have a Friend we're going to share it with, we both Had the same thought/Dream on the same day, crazy HUH?
Deploy Hope you have Heat by now and Hope you're doing much better!
Music* You are so right I Liked having money a whole lot Better then NOT, SURE DOES MAKE LIFE EASIER!
My home took 3 feet of water so I coukd really use some extra cash right now.
American Indian and Prisonersix, I am so sorry for the loss and problems you both have and are experiencing. Hope for better days ahead and Lottery wins!
I believe there are a few sites that forecast the rollover jackpot number based on sales. This has been talked about before but I am not sure on the link.
American Indian, Do not worry about, "Money being evil". It is the love of money and the correct quote is,"For the love of money is a root of many evils." Money is not evil in itself.
Money is made of matter and energy. Another name for it is, "currency". Like in rivers and streams. And electricity.
Now in the digital age money is in a new arena. Computers use ones and zeros to communicate with each other. There are wonderful things happening in the world these days. The changes are almost too fast to keep up with.
The lottery is another form of entertainment. Enjoy it while you can.
Thanks, Unluckyone. I'll try to find one.
Try the TX lottery. They have a jackpot calculator for a roll over.
Thanks, Unluckyone. I looked it up but it only shows the current amount and not the future. Maybe, later today it will pop up.
I just checked the tax lottery website and under Powerball their is a menu with a link for you to choose estimate powerball jackpot calculator document.
Yes, several hours after I commented, they updated it to include the estimated roll over amount for next Wed.