This money will be won by me in Scottsdale Arizona 

I will make history!!! ????????????????????????????

^{this thread will be on the news and the bonus ball will be 5}

1.5 billion!

Can someone who knows about "poisson distributions" and other such esoteric topics update us neophites on the odds of a rollover, the odds of someone winning, how many combinations have been sold, etc. 

What will be the jackpot Sat. if no body wins Wednesday?

PS my apologies if a similar post has been made recently. I just don't have the resources to read hundreds of posts.

I love it!!!

Me too!

Regards.

This thing is going to PLUTO! It may it $1.7B by draw time. We may see a cash value at/over a billion!

This is awesome. I thought it was gonna be won a week ago, but I was wrong. Wow. I am excited to see what this will do to the psychology of lottery players. It has been that JPs don't start really moving until $100 + million. Now that we have seen the "B" word,  seen JPs jump $100 million in a day, and seen what 1 in 292 million REALLY means, when will people really start playing now? That $15 mil. MM jackpot looks pretty sad next to 999 on the billboard near my house (though $15 mil. is a LOT of money!).

One Ticket 

One Winner 

I think Mega will soon set their odds at some where around 1 in 310-320 million. We've already seen that 1 in 292 million is winnable.

Amazing. 

What with the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday available for the purchasing of tickets you've got to expect this JP to climb a bit more if not a lot more.  The insane thing is that the jackpot rose $427.7M from Wednesday to Saturday and already with the projection of a $1.5Billion JP is a rise of $550.2M so the JP projected climb is already $122.5M more than the last time around.

Of course we all know it's winnable because the new odds were in effect beginning October 7, 2015 and someone won 9 drawings later November 4, 2015 taking down a $144.1M JP.

I just got back from making them need to raise it again before the draw.

I'm ready!

And where are all these lines? I've made over a dozen separate Powerball purchases over the past week and have not stood behind another individual a single time. I cannot imagine having to stand in line for over four hours to buy lottery tickets. I can, however, think of lots of ways to spend all this money.

I think it depends on where you live. Here in NYC there aren't many lines other than the ones that are created when these daily draw players want to recite 20+ combinations to the clerk for Win 3 and Win 4 games. There are so many retailers in NYC as many as 4 per block sometimes but I have seen lines out the door on TV.

Ahhh. Thank you. One more reason not to live in NYC.

Divorce lawyers must be really busy now.

TWO TICKETS

ONE WINNER

The lines are probably at retailers near the borderline of states that don't have PB.

I'm going to need a bodyguard when I collect my winning ticket.

NYS Lottery used to have standards and would refuse to let stores be Lotto retailers if another one was within a certain distance. Now it seems they don't care. It seems like as long as you have a high speed Internet connection and enough counter space for a terminal you're good to go.

I was at a store a few months back and the owner had all his scratch offs right by the grill. You could see the grease build up on some of the tickets lol.

Two girls

One... oh wrong thread...

Wooow.. It's kind of funny seeing that the mega millions jackpot is 1% of the powerball jackpot..those record breaking times we live in today..

Wonder if it will go to $2 billion if not won tomorrow night!?

If it rolls, it would be 2 billion

for what? do you plan on taking it all in cash?

Sorry you guys, I need my Ferrari so I'm gonna have to win.

And I want the whole thing so don't hold out any hope of multiple winners.

I'm okay with sharing.  Me and four other winners.  Spread the love.

 I want this 

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Yes, indeed.

To ALL USA Lawyers out there:

Please expect your business to grow by leaps and bounds, when this Lotto hits.

THE IRS WILL ALSO HAVE A BOOT CAMP ESTABLISHED TO COLLECT THEIR PORTION IN TAXES!!!

ANY GOOD FINANCE ADVISOR AROUND?

.

Yes, if I tookie one lookie at a cookie like sookie, you would!

(that's considering you really do like your posted image, and are not one of these she-males)

I was going to post "Billionaire" by Bruno Mars but LP blocked it.

.

I have visited Phoenix, Tucson, and a few other cities in AZ.

Scottsdale, as you mention is where actor Bob Crane (Colonel Hogan, from Hogan's Heroes) was murdered.

Wow... it went even higher

Actually no matter how you paint it you still lose.

If the ticket was purchased during the marriage and then the divorce is done and then the party goes ands claims the ticket 50% is still owed to the ex-spouse after the fact.

A Florida Lotto winner many years ago had his daughter from his first marriage claim the ticket and the 2nd wife got screwed big time. Although they were married, she was/is not married to his daughter and she (ex wife #2) lost her legal battle.

Same thing with me today.

I think most people are depressed due to winter, or just S.A.D. (the seasonal thing)

But I made my contribution, I know that.

Are you opening a circus with your winnings? 

Just kidding!  I want a chauffeur.  The world would probably be a safer place.

ALL ABOUT TAX FROM UNCLE SAM

Tax his land, tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow, tax his goat,
Tax his pants, tax his coat.
Tax his ties, tax his shirts,
Tax his work, tax his dirt.

Tax his chew, tax his smoke,
Teach him taxes are no joke.
Tax his car, tax his grass,
Tax the roads he must pass.

Tax his food, tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his sodas, tax his beers,
If he cries, tax his tears.

Tax his bills, tax his gas,
Tax his notes, tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers, tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin, tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.

Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"
And when he's gone, we won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance tax

All those people who are waiting in line for PowerBall tickets can go home.  I've got the winning ticket right here.

Well the trash is coming out.  I am getting emails telling me to use my lottery winnings......blah blah....

Someone wrote in to the 700 club asking if it was wrong to want to buy a lottery ticket since it is so high. 

Guess the scammers will soon be out as well.  Too bad a good thing has the propensity to turn ugly.

Speaking of S.A.D I never knew it existed until I moved to the Pacific Northwest lol.  Ready to win and get outta Dodge. 

Yes, I always thought SAD was "just in your head" but when I lived in Vancouver, I learned it was real.  All that dismal constant grey!  Now I live in Florida and no SAD.

Connecticut

I predict jackpot will be 1.8 billion by time of draw. And if it rolls next one will reach 2.5 billion. Let's see how close I get to my predictions.

No I look more like Rita Hayworth actually.  But because I am a single woman there is no way I'm going down there myself.  Luckily I live in anonymous state and I will be pretty low key.

I like your predictions!

dc

Perfect for the downtown traffic

I'm sick of these drunk on taxation, gold-digging politicians!

... and the powerball number is 12.  Good Luck and good night.

"Let's see, yep, got that one, yep those are good, first five good, wow, that a match, what.. the powerball matches too!  WE WON, BABE THEY JUST HAD THE DRAWING AND WE WON!  THAT'S THE BILLION DOLLAR JACK (knock, knock, knock).  Who would be knocking this time of night?  Hide the ticket!  "

"Sir, we're from the IRS and understand you just won the lottery.  We are here to ensure the taxes are promptly collected.  That will be $500,000,000.00.  Will you be writing a check or we have a credit card terminal with us if you prefer..."

If nobody wins tomorrow, how much would the jackpot be?

If it rolls to $2.5 billion, people will start thinking this is getting out of control. At some point we have to think, is this alright?

Do you honestly think they will let you remain anonymous if you're the sole winner of $1.5 billion dollars?

What a scary thought and probably not far from the truth.  I still think they should be dismantled and the sooner the better. 

It's mine! :)

Yea at the press conference when they present the gint check say   " WTF is this , you only accept cash/ WELL SO DO I!  where's my cash "

I'm totally with you on that cash thing.

I just realized this little 5"x3" piece of paper sitting in front of me could be one of the most valuable pieces of paper in history. Maybe I should take proper care of it, eh?

You couldn't pay me a billion dollars to drive one of those much less own one.  I wouldn't touch that with a billion foot pole.  I am reminded of a lottery winner that went and bought a bicycle with his winnings....How Boring!

The winner(s) will get international media attention, which is why I decided to not get anymore PB tickets.

Brad Duke.  But it was a $13,000 bike.  Doesn't that make it a little more exciting?

It's already out of control. This should be like the UK lotto, capped, and when it rolls over, excess goes to lower tiers.

A sole winner of this, or, imagine if it rolls over again, will have world-wide attention.....I'd like to win, with 3, 4 or 5 other winning tickets, then maybe you could somehow stay hidden.

Nope!  Not at all!

I'm guessing that MUSL is being a bit conservative about the advertised jackpot, and that if they're willing to advertise 1.5 we'll see at least 1.6 when it's done. Here are probabilities for 1.6 to 1.8 billion, based on sales of 685,  789, and 894 million tickets. I've seen some conflicting data, so there's some minor wiggle room.

Thanks KY Floyd

So basically... a 90% of a winner or winners this Wed?

I really hope multiple people win.

They wouldn't have a choice. It's law here. Now I can see there being a public uproar and people asking to change it afterwards but that's later on, it wouldn't effect this drawing.

• It's been a long time since New Mexico hit the JP. I've been dreaming of bringing this home!

Winning this much would be a blessing but probably more of a curse. You will be hunted to the ends of the earth by everyone from people that want your money to people wanting to interview you and so on. Meanwhile the guy that won the MegaMillions in NY is laughing because no one cares about him or is looking for him. 

sorry sookie, law, schmaw, someone would expose you for sure. the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. someone would find out and tell. no way you could conceal this if you won. moot point of course.

Just have to be able to live or buy the ticket in an anonymous state. And then try to be as low key as possible....

Idk, Spain got so used to theirs that it's now ingrained in the culture. They don't see anything wrong with jackpots worth over a billion dollars. Yes, a lot more people are almost guaranteed to be winners than with the PB, but look at it this way, at the rate the tickets are selling, I don't think many people are taking issue with the size of it. If MM reacts to this by changing the odds and/or price, this just might be the norm. And those who win anything under $200 million won't even make the news. Which would be a wonderful thing for them.

When I claim my $1.5B jackpot on Thursday, the media is only getting 15 minutes of my time. After that, I'm heading straight back into the back room to finish whatever else the lottery needs me to do, then I'm out of there.

Let it keep rolling till kingdom come or till somebody actually wins it.

If you are the sole winner I guarantee that 15min will not be the end. There will be tons of news/reporters trying to get to talk to you for longer interviews, documentary makers, conspiracy cooks, crazies, inventors, scammers, investment salesment, etc. etc. 

There are stories of lotto winners getting pounded every day with phone calls, letters, and even harassed on streets. 

So yes you need to stay very very anonymous...likely need to change name, appearance, change phone/mailbox/address/etc.

yup you dont want to be losing that bit of paper, even 1st booby prize isnt to be scoffed at.

i just calculated the amount f gold that could be bought with that jackpot.now i have to sit down. if im right 19 metric ton

Whooo boy.  That is a lot of earrings!

Good grief. I've been hibernating at work and go pick up some tickets on my way home tonight only to see they've already bumped the jackpot. 

When I win, the first call I make is to Manfred Sternberg.

Yeah, but as an Australian you have to pay the same taxes Americans do, so...

only sixteen metric tons of gold for you (and over three million US dollars in change), assuming you buy your ticket in California (no state or local tax here).

.

What a boatload of garbage.

Why is everyone so paranoid of being covered, if it even gets to that?
What did you do that makes you so ashamed?  When you win it, you'll have 7.3 billion others jealous of you, for having won, what many countries may not even have.

There isn't a doggone thing I wouldn't disclose about myself, if I was pulled in front of a camera. But I'd have to be the sole or shared winner of the $billy.  Heck, the more I think about it, I'd go on TV if I got the 2nd prize (even though it's not even a full million. Because prize 2 would work well for me.)

Afraid that hordes of people would come to your house?   How do you think Bill Gates feels?  What did he do to deal with it?
Well, whoever wins, that's what the winner has got to do.

Oh, OK, I guess I have being single, on my side.

When you go on Youtube, do you look to see if someone made any videos of you?
If they want to do that, they will.  SO FREAKING WHAT?
Why do you even check?

For instance, I did almost nothing today, but looked at youtube and checked out NOTHING but Jeep videos, and all kinds of 4-wheelers in the mud events. People getting drunk, etc.
I don't have any 4 wheel drive. But, that'll certainly change, if prize 1 or 2 of the $billy comes.

But am I going to remember the fools that got in a fight
and ended up in the mud pit?

Am I going to remember the guy that got punched in the face, in Russia, due to an argument over a car accident?   NO WAY WOULD I EVER WASTE MY TIME.

You wouldn't believe the crappy relations I have with my own siblings.
Saying NO to them is a PLEASURE.

Sick of the doorbell ringing?

Disconnect it, put a sign on the door telling of the situation. Freedom of the Press? Yeah?  Well, sound proof your home.

Sick of the phone ringing?

I wish I had reason to let you all hear my phone greeting.  It would make many laugh (my siblings wouldn't laugh), if they ever called me, but everyone would agree that's what's needed at times. And get this: there isn't one curse-word in the whole greeting. No angry tone or anything like that.

Sick of all the emails?

Sick of letters of all sorts? 

Get a new house, and that'll settle a lot of your paranoid jumping nerves. There's a community near Malibu, Ca where houses start. . . . . Where houses START at $14 million.
Is that insane?

Get used to a full-time personal guard/entourage.

I rarely leave the house where I live.

You people shouldn't be so paranoid. Someone has to win this thing.  If it's you, just be honest about yourself, because someone will undoubtedly investigate you, and you won't even know it.

Just my 2¢ worth about that

Strange that the two "one million dollar" winners from Saturday's Draw were only about 9 miles apart from each other?

Milford Ohio and Goshen Ohio.

Maybe they same person? They're close to Cicinnati Ohio.

Other than Mayberry, where would be a safe place to move to once you got all this money?

Do you think if you write in the biggest font possible people will care about you now? What is it with the small group of people on here who feel they need to post stuff with the biggest font humanly possible? Grow up, you look like psychopaths.

If it rolls one more time, I might have enough to buy the Pittsburgh Steelers! 

What a time to be alive !!!!

Time to buy a wig with serious bangs, some oversized sunglasses and skin toner.

Or... How funny would it be if the winner showed up in a Batman costume or Luchador mask?

According to the Texas website, the lottery now is assuming that they will generate $1.141B in revenue, a significant amount of revenue for the member states even when divided among all of them.    The real message of the most recent rollover, where approximately $950M in in revenue was generated, producing 475M tickets, should have been that the lottery is now pretty nearly impossible to win, but many people don't care since the sentence includes "nearly."

It is now also nearly impossible to cover the entire field, although the odds of yet another rollover are decreasing.

The Poisoon distribution probabilities of various numbers of winners, assuming a completely randomized ticket selection, and that 1.141B in revenue is generated, and thus 570M tickets are sold, are as follows:

The pretax expectation value is now a robust 1.11, meaning that for the first time since this all began, a Powerball ticket is what can be considered a "good bet."

Dream on, but since the probability that you will really win the whole thing is vanishingly small, don't quit your day job.

Groppo! loved your message! Stay sensible, clean up any skeletons in your closet, and be genuine , enjoy life!

No reason to quit your job til check is securely verfied deposited in bank. up until then... its not accounted for.

Give all the stats , its still 50/50. You either got the winning ticket or you got a piece of paper with ink on it.

One thing I did observe is that all the outer numbers on a playslip are rarely pulled in draws. 1 out of four draws might have One of those numbers. I enjoy finding the patterns on a slip.. now I understand how some enjoyed deciphering mssgs during wartime. Fascinating.

>> prob988

thanks for the work.  still  more likely to roll than me win it. but i have a feeling we wont be seeing $2B+  next draw

lottery buzz around here is simmering down now that we have gotten to levels that no one (at least around here) can fathom.

Be interesting if this rolls... Talk about unfathomable.

Walt Hickey at FiveThirtyEight ran a couple of models. One, similar to yours, has 554m tickets sold and an 85% chance of at least one winner. The other has 1.2b sold and a 98% chance of at least one winner. According to the lower model, there's a natural ceiling at about 600m tickets sold -- there's only so many people willing to put money into the lottery no matter how big it gets. But there's so little data on jackpots this size, who knows?

He says it's not a good bet, though, because his expected value model includes federal taxes. Return of $1.32 on a $2 ticket.

It might approach 2 billion. The winner of this jackpot is not going to be just one person, but several. It's too big for one person to win. I would like to be one of the several

People out here buying $800 worth of tickets at a time my God.

You can certainly tell everyone is 'getting in the act'. I saw a guy today looking at the play slips and then he asked the clerk, "Which one is Powerball?"

.

       That Shaft is one bad motha. . .

SHUTCHO MOUF

         I'm just talking about the Shaft.. . . .

We can dig it.

.
That's complete insanity.

Yup. When it was it was 900mill i could name 15 people that wouldn't play. Now that's down to 3.

Human Nature!

Funny how so many only focus on the potentially negative and taxes, even though the chances of of things happening is minuscule. Not to mention you should already have more money than you will ever need after  a year and on anyway unless you are a complete idiot.  Chances are you will get every payment as it is shown with a 5% increase every year. I don't give a crap about the taxes, I am thinking about how much money I will have after them regardless of what method I take. The PB is not going to go bankrupt, look how much money it makes and how long it has been going on. So this kind of obsessive negative thinking is totally necessary. People are more worried about the taxes than the HUGE principle left. The amount is just so high that it is warping people's minds. But most likely everything will be fine, REALLY fine.

That is Powerball!!!

Yup.

You know I have never been afraid of a lottery jackpot before, but this one scares me...and I like it. 

Variation to a quote from Under Siege 2

Penn: [to Sarah Ryback] You know I have never been afraid of anybody. But that uncle of yours scares me... and I like it.

Couldn't be any better written.  Folks need to think of the positives.  Taxes are inevitable no matter what, so get over it.  Do you complain about the work taxes?  I never do.

Mea Culpa with Powerball since I commented long ago that it takes too long with the new matrix for the jackpots to climb.  Clearly I was wrong.

Yeah that is the greed factor of most, the higher it gets the more people want. They sit on here all day and night arguing how to avoid taxes and how horrible it i will be to win. I think about it what an opportunity of a lifetime I will have, and how much money I will have after taxes that I still will never spend. If they are that worried about it and paying taxes they should not even bother playing. Yet we know they are. With that much money taxes and investing is a non-issue as you should never come close to spending the principle even unless you REALLY mess up. As an avid studier of the law of attraction for a very long time now, I focus on the positives and the great things that kind of money will do for me. If you focus on nothing but fear, hardships, taxes etc chances are you will attract all those issues even more so. You may not even win at all then because in your mind you don't really want to anyway because of your preconceived notions. You don't know what will happen until you experience it, and if you are smart and careful you should be very happy for a very long time.

At work in the ever sad Pediatric ICU I chuckle @ how many don't have a clue about the lottery, so have to educate the ones who never played.  Some many questions.  Simplest reply is to go the clerk and say quick pick Powerball with Powerplay and they still don't get it.  Not one of them gripe about the taxes and no negative comments at all.

I tell them all I want is five #'s with Powerplay and I'm out of there.  Been working @ something since 4th grade, retired from the Army 18 years ago and been a Respiratory Therapist @ PICU for just over 18 years.  I said no more ventilators, child abuse, kids dying, parents lying for me. 

We are in dire need in a new PICU since we've outgrown this one and the Attendings will say 'when you win the lottery, you can build us a new PICU.'  I chuckle @ them. 

Anyhow, negative comments and feelings about the lottery and taxes will only flourish into more negativity, smile and thank whomever/whatever you believe in that you are alive another day.