3rd largest lottery jackpot the world has ever seen
By Todd Northrop
You want to win a half-billion dollar jackpot? For only the third time in history, it is possible — or will be, by the time Saturday's drawing comes around.
Let the frenzy begin. Millions upon millions of people around the country will be lining up for their chance to claim the historic jackpot Saturday evening.
The Powerball jackpot is so huge that the next-highest jackpot in history is $85 million less than Saturday's initial estimate.
The new high-water mark of $475 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Wednesday night's $363.9 million grand prize. And if past ticket sales are any indication of what will happen this week, the jackpot may get bigger — much bigger — by the time the drawing kicks off.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is a staggering $302.4 million. 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.
The cash payout value is the 3rd-largest in history. Only Mega Million's record of $471 million, set on March 30, 2012, and Powerball's $384.7 million, awarded on Nov. 28, 2012, were larger than the cash value up for grabs Saturday. (See list of all-time record annuity and cash jackpots below.)
In January, 2012, Powerball's pricing and prize structure changed, with the game's organizers claiming that the changes would produce bigger jackpots more often — and they were right. Within the first year of the changes, Powerball produced five $300+ million jackpot run-ups, including a nearly $600 million jackpot in November, and the nearly $500 million jackpot Saturday.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. In this case, it may be a lot higher, almost certainly exceeding the half-billion dollar mark.
The historic prize is the result of 13 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on April 3, 2013.
The winning numbers for Wednesday, May 15, 2013 were 2, 11, 26, 34, and 41, with Powerball number 32.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Wednesday, 28 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arkansas, 6 from California, 1 from Connecticut, 1 from Delaware, 2 from Georgia, 1 from Indiana, 1 from Kentucky, 2 from Massachusetts, 1 from Michigan, 1 from Missouri, 1 from Nebraska, 1 from New Jersey, 3 from New York, 1 from North Carolina, 2 from Ohio, 1 from Pennsylvania, 1 from South Dakota, and 1 from Virginia.
The 6 California second-prize winners will each be awarded $256,317, 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.
Only two of the second-prize winners purchased the Power Play option — the tickets sold in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Because those two tickets were purchased with the Power Play option their second-prize win is automatically 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.
122 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 10 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $40,000, and 7 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $17,447 this drawing.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $111.1 million from its previous amount of $363.9 million. The cash value was raised by $70.7 million from its previous amount of $231.7 million.
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 43 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.
A 44th Powerball state will be added some time in the next year, as the state of Wyoming has approved a new state lottery with the intention of joining Powerball and other multi-state lottery games. (See Wyoming officially becomes 44th state with a lottery, Lottery Post, Mar. 14, 2013.)
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
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 3rd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. The amount of the jackpot may rise before the drawing Saturday 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 Saturday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $475 million, May 18, 2013 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 26, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295 million, Aug. 25, 2001 - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $294 million, Jul. 2, 2004 - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $276.3 million, Mar. 15, 2008 - West Virgina
- Mega Millions: $275 million, Feb. 22, 2008 - Georgia
- Mega Millions: $270 million, Feb. 28, 2006 - Ohio
- Mega Millions: $266 million, May 4, 2010 - California
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 11
- Powerball: 12
- 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 20 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. The new Powerball jackpot ranks as the 2nd-highest ever in the United States.
- 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: $302.4 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($475 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- 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: $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
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- 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
- Powerball: $166 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $164.4 million cash, won Oct. 19, 2005 ($340 million annuity) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $164 million cash, Feb. 28, 2006 ($270 million annuity) - Ohio
we will see $500 million before Saturday night in my opinion. I'm getting my tickets now.
It'll be at $515M by Saturday
Make that $525M
No, gotta be at least $560
Who am I kidding, I have no idea. It'll be a whole lot no matter what.
Congrats to California for 6 million dollar winners. Just got in and already a rewarded more than anywhere else tonight. Insane!
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Make that, congrats Cali for having 6 winning tickets. Boo for you for your messed up system so they won't get the $1m each.
Unbelieveable! Two huge jackpots for Florida lottery players.
it rolled over at higher amount then last half billion PB jackpot
Powerball Jackpot for Sat, Nov 24, 2012
$325,000,000 or $212,800,000 cash
rolled to
Powerball Jackpot for Wed, Nov 28, 2012 $587,500,000 or $384,700,000 cash
plus we got CA now !
i think it will BEAT the old pb record
587m for sure , if not close!
the only 2 jackpots to get to half billion number before this won both had more then 1 winner also
if 1 winner hits this only say hello richest single lottery winner ever!
and i dare say billion dollar jackpot if it rolls again "this time its good as dead thro, like less then 5% chance it rolls, who knows anything possible"
i hope to god the poor sucker"or luckest person ever!" who wins this claims it in trust/hides they will need it
media going to be all over winners.............
Are you sure because it looks like tonights (6) 2nd place winners only get 256k. TG i'm not in cali.
what million dollar winner from California? California had six tickets matching 5 WB without the powerball. The 2nd prize winners will each get $256,317 before federal taxes.
Wow. Personally I would rather win MM cuz that HUGE winner will fade into the background with all the PB fever!
Nope you're right. I forgot about Cali's weird payout system. I almost said I wish I was in Cali, now I'm glad I'm not. LOL.
you got that right. Don't get me wrong, $256,317 is nothing to sneeze at but getting 5 wb without the powerball is probably a once in a life time event. I would want at least a million for it.
This is INSANE!!! If history repeats itself, this advertised jackpot will increase several times before the actual, Saturday drawing. It will be over half a billion dollars for sure. I hope I'll be the one with those lucky jackpot numbers!!!
We will see 500 mill way befor we get to Saturday. If i remember right when the record JP of 588 was set it was from a rollover of 325 mill and the first advertised JP was showing 425 mill. Ticket sales were so strong that the 425 ended up being 588. There were 563 million in ticket sales for that one and California wasnt in it for that one so with Calif in it now and the early estimated JP is 475 opposed to 425 for that one i think we will see at least 2 changes in the amount by Saturday night. I look for ending up over 600 mill. Only thing that will hurt it at all is that the Mega Mill JP is also big.
Definitely with you on that. 250k before taxes, after they beat the odds and managed to get 5 of the numbers? 1 state over would get them the mil. They managed to match what everyone else matched and they'll get 75% less? That ain't right.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE MINE FOLKSSSSSS !!!! MINE !!!!
I've dreaming about this for a long time, now it is going
to be a dream come true.
Yea it's bs. I bet alot of players are still driving to arizona.
Whenever it's won, I hope it will be multiple winners instead of one winner! That much money needs to be shared. Will it be low numbers or will it be high numbers? I played 10 bucks, but only had two numbers in a row the 2 and 11...one digit away from the powerball 32, I had 33. Twenty-eight second tier winners..One from my state.. had 2 last time from my state to win 1 million. Looks like will have to get out my bottle to spill out some more numbers for me to play! Wishing all of y'all GOO LUCK!!!
That's roughly a 182 million cash option, after taxes.
182 million dollars!
Just for fun, I would fill 10 briefcases with money and hide them around a city and give out cryptic clues on the internet as to where to find the money. It would be so big. I don't know if something like that is legal, but <snip> that would make for some entertainment. I want to create a rat race! It would be so fun seeing all the people come on the website and read the clues and then drive and run around the city looking for the money.
Oh my, this could be a reality show.
I still don't get why it's set up like that
Note that this isn't actually the 3rd largest in the WORLD, because US lotteries lies about the amount...
Seriously, I can offer you a TRILLION dollars, on a 100 trillion year-annuity 1 dollar/yr if you give me 100,000,000 now. Using the annuity value is complete
BS. And they tax what's left... seriously... you'll get 182 million usd after everything, which is much less than the 195,000,000 euro EuroMillions.
If you live in a state that doesnt tax lottery winnings you will get 182. Be less if you live in a state that taxes lottery winnings.
If I don't win this jackpot I will be really upset!!
I will win!
I thought it was going to be won last night.
Well, if you want add a bit of reality cruelty, have one or two cases have very tiny amounts, a la Deal or No Deal.
Don't you all just love lottery insanity? :)
So what if you match 2 plus PB how much do you get? in cali
$7.
http://www.calottery.com/Play/Draw-Games/powerball
Texas got this one! Ticket has already been purchased on a multi-draw from Ft Worth.
Wow
Good Luck everyone
Everyone's going apesh*t over powerball, when Megamillions has a $190 million jackpot with a higher percentage cash payout and your chances of winning are 100% better. That's where I'm throwing away my money to...
Those who won Million Dollars , Why didn't they "spend extra dollar and play
"powerplay " and win $2 million dollars ???
I don't know. Those who lost, why didn't they pick the winning numbers and win the jackpot???
Woo Hoo Powerball Frenzy
Think it could hit 1 (fake) billion if no one wins this time around, given four more days til wednesday's draw?
I never play the powerplay!!
PP can double the second prize from $1M to $2M. Also it is much easier to hit the second prize than to hit the JP as proven by the 28 people who hit it last nite. I play it when I buy my 2 lines.
If it does get won this saturday, for sure it will beat Mega Millions record. But I am glad the Jackpots are gettinglarger and larger. I remember when I first joined LP, I posted several post asking people if they ever thought we'd see a $400 million Jackpot, 9 to 1 people said no. Well, Im glad we are inching closer to the first ever billion dollar Jackpot...........
Rooting for Texas to get her first Powerball jackpot winner! Yee-Hawwwwww!!!!!!
The stars at night are big and bright...
clap clap clap clap
Powerball jackpot - Deep in the Heart of Texas!
Blood in the water and let the insanity begin
lord have mercy on those poor clerks that have to deal with the mob
Gonna be a lot of disappointed people Wednesday night,judging by the responses on this board this morning.
Because that extra million (or worse, the extra couple of bucks on the small prizes) isn't what I'm aiming at - I'd rather have extra chances to win the whole thing.
Oooooooops!
Imagonawinbig Saturday!
Good luck to all LP Members
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I dont care about money. I just wanted to feel like a winner.
I bet crapafornia will be the big winner. I bet theres shenanigans behind the constant crapafornia lottery wins.
I bought an advance ticket last nite for the Saturday drawing but I don't like my numbers.
Send it to me,I can use it.
The drawing is on Saturday night. You have time. Go get numbers you're happy with.
I think I'll go with some of my numbers and some quickpicks too. I'll play both Mega Millions and Powerball. I want to be in it to win it for both. I want it so bad!!! I dream BIG!!! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!
Will be going WAY OVER BUDGET this weekend with Lotto tickets. Powerball at 475 mil and rising, Mega at 190, Ohio Lotto at 35.6, Ohio 5-number Rolling Cash at .565, Michigan 47 (live ten min. from state line) at 5.2 mil.
Screw the house payment, I've got priorities...
Uhhh..Maybe cause the odds of winning are astronomical? When u go to the casino and play blackjack and win $20 in a hand, why not bet $250? U knew u were gonna win right? (Sarcasm if u cant tell)
Even though 28 tickets won the 2nd tier prize I am willing to bet that millions were spent on "powerplay" and didn't win ANYTHING.
Because of the ridiculous odds, I rarely play and when I do it's never with the Powerplay or Megaplier option.
Nice Post.
(it was a dumb question)
PP is cool for those playing a line. (or possibly 2)
I like to play at least 5.
You don't have to like your numbers. At least you have your ticket and have as good a chance as anybody else to win. It simply takes a miracle and you just never know.
let it raise to a billion. that would be awesome .. record breaking number of players would get a chunk of atleast a million .
It's far, far easier to lose, as proven by the many millions of players who got zip. When you spend that extra dollar there's about a 97% chance that you're just wasting it.
What I like to know ....in my state the : net payout $211,680,000
( after taxes ) is this the true amount or estimate ?
Thanks for joining Cali you are making a Huge difference
That is the amount you will be paid initially. The lottery only deducts 25% Federal and your states 5% tax. You will be responsible for additional Federal taxes when you file your income tax return.
Assuming you have no deductions, you will owe $44 million more just on your Federal tax liability. Your state may assess additional local taxes and you may be responsible for a 3.8% Obamacare tax. At this point the IRS language has been very vague on this matter as they state that this tax will apply to any earned and unearned income as well as capital gains over 200k. The IRS classifies lottery and gambling winnings as earned income.
Thank You ......... Jill 34786
California Dreamin'!
I agree. Not to mention last year's record PB started off at $425M on the final run. One thing that might have lowered sales for the old PB record is that the drawing was held less than a month before Christmas.
The world record March 2012 $656 MM jackpot started off at $476M, I'd reckon that this new PB jackpot has got a pretty decent shot at breaking that record as well.
Will keep all this in mind .........taxes can become complicated ......
This is the reason why they say ...hire Tax Lawyer , Financial Advisor , and CPA .
Powerball just increased to $550 Million
I just got an email from new york state lottery on my facebook saying its now 550 milliom
$350.1M CASH!!!!
I just read on powerball website $550 million annuity. Wow!-weshar75
Not after taxes, unfortunately.
industeral strength YIKES !!!
I just noticed that too on the KY Lottery site. Double Wow!
Yes...Your right bluefox10........Gotta pay the taxman ..I thnik the I.R.S. is going after the lottery people next, after the TEA PARTY people.lol