8th-largest US jackpot ever
By Todd Northrop
July has shaped up to be a sizzling hot month for lottery jackpot chasers, first with Mega Millions, and now with Powerball, each offering up a grand prizes of around a half-billion dollars.
Between now and Saturday evening, anyone can walk into a store and buy a lottery ticket for a couple of bucks that has the potential of winning $478 million — which may quite possibly be much higher by the time the Powerball drawing kicks off Saturday night.
That's because lotteries typically are very conservative in their initial jackpot estimates, like we saw with Wednesday's Powerball drawing. The initial estimate Sunday morning was $422 million, but by the time all the proceeds were counted before the drawing Wednesday night, the jackpot had swelled to $434.8 million.
Seasoned lottery players keep an eye on the lump-sum cash value of the jackpot, and the initial estimate is just as eye-popping: $330.6 million. And likely to grow even bigger before Saturday.
When compared against all lottery drawings conducted in United States lottery history, Saturday's Powerball jackpot ranks 8th all-time, and the cash value also ranks as number 8 among all cash values in history. (See the top 25 United States annuity and cash value jackpots below.)
Of course, the big winner (or winners) will have to pay taxes on their prize, so USA Mega has a handy Jackpot Analysis page available to calculate the federal and state taxes that would be withheld upon the award of your nice big jackpot.
This is the largest Powerball jackpot since — well, since the largest Powerball jackpot of all time was awarded in the January 13, 2016, drawing. Three winning tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee split a world-record $1.6 billion grand prize.
Saturday's mammoth jackpot is the result of 23 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on May 11.
The winning numbers for Wednesday, July 27, 2016 were 10, 47, 50, 65, and 68, with Powerball number 24. The Power Play number was 2.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Wednesday, 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Florida, 1 from Ohio, 1 from Pennsylvania, and 1 from Virginia.
Only one of the second-prize winners purchased the Power Play option — the ticket sold in Florida. Because that ticket was 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. 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.
54 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 7 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $100,000, and 7 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $19,186 this drawing.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $43.2 million from its previous amount of $434.8 million and the cash value was raised by $30.8 million from its previous amount of $299.8 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Saturday 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 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
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 8th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, and the 5th-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Brisk sales will almost certainly 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: $540 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Powerball: $478 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $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: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 9
- 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 8th-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: $380.8 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($540 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: $330.6 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($478 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- 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
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 11
I want it.
I'm ready....I'm set.....now all I need to do is GO buy my ticket!
I will be in it to win it. Good luck to all... especially ME!
Someone in Green Bay won 50K in powerball and it wasn't me.
MESSAGE TO Power ball Player's......
The Power ball. Will RISE AGAIN $2.5 Billion dollar's. I Will Win the Jackpot. The First Youngest Power ball Winner With $1.2 Billion Dollar's....
Thank You
I smell another billion dollar jackpot.
Ill put my $20 in Saturday. Pfff split 10 ways still 22.8 million I'll take that.
It would be interesting to invest a portion and watch it grow and bring in profits.
I will research Executive Protection Firm. Security will be needed.
That Jackpot Will RISE TO Power AGAIN $2.5 Billion Dollar's........ I Will Win be the Winner
Thank You
I am ready to be in the top 10- all the best people.
I do not mind becoming an immigrant in the Land of Wealth. I'm well able to possess this JACKPOT.#have a plan #enjoythejourney
The local liberal mainstream media stations are taking notice of the powerball jackpot now too. The people that say it would be easy to go from poor to rich are really nuts, All the low life's within the area will take notice, so will family, and unknown family, and so on. Think of it like this, "more money, more problems"
I will be taking Robert Pagliarini's advice. He is the author of "Sudden Wealth". He recommends that you create a one or two line reply. Memorize it and use it when asked for a gift, loan, or anything else. It could be something like this,"I cannot reply to your request now but I will give your information to my Financial Adviser" "He will get back to you with more questions". If they continue to ask just repeat your reply.
This is creating a business like exchange. Go Slow. "He or She who has the gold rules". They play by your rules now.
My reply would be:
"See the PA Legislature as they now have an extra $10,150,000!"
Representative Dave Reed: 550 Philadelphia St, Indiana, PA 15701
Thank you. Anonymous is the way to go.
The Jackpot Will RISE TO POWER AGAIN $2.5Billion Dollar'......I Will Win the Lottery
Good luck to all players!
I was going to go with "I have no comment at this time" if I would ever have a jackpot win, because the liberal mainstream media is so dishonest. I would definitely give a statement on facebook after I get paid. I'm too politically incorrect for TV.
i tried to resist but i couldn't. seems like you're going to have one heckuva time with your 400m cash or whatever amount you're dreaming of winning. just sitting back and watching it grow sounds like you will be having the time of your life. and by all means don't give any away, spend any, or loan any of it out or your nest egg won't grow as fast as you are probably aging. i sleep better knowing absolutely for sure that you won't win it. that fraud pagliarini's advice will only cause one to lose friends and gain enemy's. you certainly would be ostracized in your community if you stayed there. being whispered about behind your back and probably in front of it. they'd be saying "that old miser invested all the money with some financial advisor who is out celebrating one town over over this and she's not doling out a cent to anyone saying i cannot reply to your request now but i will give your information to my financial advisor and he will get back to you with more questions". the town could use a couple of mil for infrastructure repair and she won't even "lend them some cash" never mind donate some. yes, we're jealous, envious and all that but the bottom line is we just don't like this person. hope she leaves town with her "money". and you don't care. i'll answer for you. it's my money and i will do with it as i please. i am going to convert it to cash and have it put in my coffin. probably sooner that you think.
Faber what a crock. Music was talking about protecting the wealth and not being one of the statistics who lose it all. How do you know what will be given out, what charities will be involved?
Well as my granddaddy said: what others think of you is none of your business. So allow ppl their opinions. Unless they are being libelous or slanderous,I tend to ignore contemptuous remarks. Its more a reflection on them then anything.
How you invest is between you and your conscious.
I've no qualms in winning and moving on in life. :)
$478 MILLION: Powerball jackpot surges i think i will get my tickets early this time
Good Luck Players
Yep, what a M*$$hole. I think he gets snot-slinging drunk and after he kicks the dog for a while and it runs off, he has to come in here and show how good he is at run-on sentences.
Hope it rolls.
One-Day, Do you want to be the sole winner on Saturday night? I do not understand your, "Hope it rolls".
I am expecting $200 million. Just imagine what you could do with all that cash.
I imagine you would be the first one to crow on here if music won and then blew it all in 5 years.
Wow faber, you're taking this way too personal. I can't believe how upset you are at how someone would choose to spend their lottery jackpot. Then you wish death on the man!
What's a faber (or is it favor)?
Well...I will casually sneak in and win MM tonight.
I like your thinking, Happy California; right on line with magic*.
The California lottery tickets just arrived. I thought your CA lottery website said MM/PB could only be purchased for 10 advance draws. The MM one goes 15.
So quite a few bases covered; KY, IN, CA & MA. We may go to the anonymous state of OH tomorrow so will play there too.
How's that for you dpoly1???
Nevermind Happy California...just remembered what CA lottery said. PB only 10 advance and MM up to 20 advance plays due to the lottery machines (self play) and the way they work. $40vs $20. Good luck to you.
Close to 500 million and barely on page 3... it's amazing how jackpot fatigue sets in.
MESSGAGE TO Lottery Player's.......
The Power ball Will RISE AGAIN. To $2.5 Billion Dollar's........ I Will Win it Believe
Not much to do in The pan is there?
by the way do you have a Dog?
Good Luck
I believe (S)He means that (S)He wants it to roll on Saturday and cross the 500M checkpoint on its way to a billion.
BELIEVE. BELIEVE. BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE
Thank You
THE POWERBALL WILL RISE Again INTO $2.5 Billion dollar's. REAL FAST $478 Million dollars IS The Starting Point of the Grand Event...
BY Saturday It should be $550 Million dollar's..... $620 Million dollars the Highest
Thank You
Of all Faber's outrageous posts this one is really offensive. Why these people are allowed to continue to post such trash is beyond me.
So I guess YOU think Faber's post was unoffensive and see nothing wrong with it? Good Lord, you are going after the wrong person.
Just maybe if it rolls over will get on a roll and The Fever will kick in too
Why are you asking me questions FLipper never was addressing me or YOU, so i Don't care what they say it is None of my Business, Why are you so Worried. If you Don't like a Comment don't read it or there is a Button to PUSH for the staff to proof read....and by the way i wasn't talking to you.....
Try to Stick to ((((LOTTERY)))) Topics~ Life will be so Much Sweeter
Good Luck on The Drawing if you PLAY
A case of calling the kettle black?
Well if it rolls tomorrow night the early forecast for next Wednesday's Jackpot/Cash amount is $570M/$400M.
That's one whole lotta money. Maybe PA will nab it this time. Gl
That is more than enough for me even with a three way split. In fact, I wouldn't mind winning it Saturday night.
Good Luck all!
Until they change it again, $40 Million is the starting point for all Powerball jackpots not 478M. It'll increase to maybe 490 at the top end and if it rolls it'll increase to maybe 540M.
Where did you get those numbers from?
Of all the people who should make a statement about sticking to lottery topics. Lol! How many hundreds of lottery topics did you disrupt by posting meaningless icon after icon with no comment...especially when you get your crushes on the current troublemaker of the month. People had to scroll through all your garbage icons to even follow the topic. Stop making passive aggressive comments to people and then acting surprised when they respond.
With the way it poking slowly upward, I'm more attuned to say more like $550 million.
The Texas Lottery publishes jackpot estimates usually the day before the drawing, KY Floyd tipped me off to the link earlier this week. It provides some stats which you can use to compare with previous PB jackpots too.
http://www.txlottery.org/export/sites/lottery/Documents/jackpotestimates/pb20160730.pdf
Thanks!
Lets Hope $600 Million dollar's....
Hey. Lets Hope it Rolls over to $600 Million Dollar's....
I asked my magic 8 ball if I will win the PB jackpot tomorrow night. It said yes.
I'm afraid you guys will have to wait longer for you billy+ roll-up.
Could be a combination of Jackpot fatigue and maybe a lot of people going completely overboard on what they spent back in January trying to hit the record JP. Sales for the Jan 9 and 13 drawings were 2 billion 150 million dollars. That is a little more in sales then the first 59 drawings in 2014 produced. It took 60 drawings from Jan 1 2014 thru July 26 2014 to top 2 bill 150 mill in sales. this past drawing had an advertised JP of 422 mill and ticket sales were a little over 100 mill. Here are a few examples from past drawings that show how much smaller ticket sales are now then in the past.
7/27/16 advertised JP 422 mill ticket sales 100 mill
2/07/15 advertised JP 360 mill ticket sales 146 mill
2/09/14 advertised JP 400 mill ticket sales 183 mill
9/18/13 advertised JP 400 mill ticket sales 182 mill
8/07/13 advertised JP 425 mill ticket sales 271 mill
8/03/13 advertised JP 300 mill ticket sales 118 mill
I remember a few years back when a JP of over 300 mill was big news and would have people all exited. Now a JP has to hit the 500 mill mark to even get noticed.
Just jackpot fatigue IMO
of it ain't a billion... Meh... Who cares?
Thats the new bar... Brought to you by "the matrix change"
LOL. helpme got sideways with sully16 and after sully got done with her helpme decided to jump on someone else. She seems to like going after the wrong person.
Not sure why you felt the need to pick on me for defending a friend against a totally uncalled for attack, but yes, there's plenty to do here "in The pan".
No, I don't have a dog, but if I ever decide to get one, I will go to the pound, pick out the ugliest, dumbest, most ill tempered mongrel cur there is, adopt it and name it "helpmewin".
Well Rcbuckeye, she was playing with the wrong hornets nest if she was tangling with Sully hahaha.
After I read her post it occurred to me she wasnt playing with a full deck.
Mikeintexas and Artist pretty much said it all.
LOL
I bought a ticket today with powerplay so I am hoping for the $2 million big ones I do not need the jackpot. Just debt free and a new car and some cash to invest for retirement.-weshar75
New Jersey did it again last night; winning $5 million on Megamillions using the Megaplier option!
good luck to those playing this evening .....hope she rolls over again
Lol lol
I hope the Powerball jackpot continues to roll until one ticket matches the winning combination to win the largest jackpot in United States history of over $1.6 billion dollars.
Let's do it
Hello. THE POWER WILL RISE Again. to $2.5 Billion Dollar's................ ONE WINNER, One Ticket, ONE Man
Thank You
I suspect that another reason is the ridiculously long odds; coupled with the fact that people have the experience of losing significant money without even a minor win, say $5, is wearing out enthusiasm.
I like dogs but I couldn't help but laugh at your response.
We haven't heard from golfer1960 so perhaps it was him? just not sure if he plays small jackpots.
02-11-35-57-60 + 08
No D, it wasn't me. I'm gonna try PB tonight though.
Good luck to you too!
I like that!!!!!
11-17-21-23-32 PB 05
There is a very good chance that it gets won tonight.
6 numbers under 32 still produces a lot of combinations that would need to be picked. Higher then average, but not such a big chance of someone winning.
3 5/6 winners from California, but no Jackpot winner there
It was hit in New Hampshire.
Congrats to the winner(s).
It hit for $487 mil. Original estimates were $478 mil
That gives the winner about another $6 mil worth of lump in their lump sum cash value.
I have a feeling that the winner was probably from outside the state and went there for the no tax advantage. I obviously have no way of knowing whether that's true or not but I just have the feeling.
Congratulations New Hampshire.
I remember crossing the border on our many trips from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. As soon as you crossed the border was a building that said New Hampshire Sweepstakes on it. They are the original Founding Fathers if you will of the modern lottery; they just didn't call it that.
To this day there are numerous stores right on the border that sell lottery tickets from an era when not all states that have lotteries now had lotteries then. I bet there were some serious lines @ Primm store in California from Nevadans. Suppose the same is true for MS and AL in this neck of the woods.
Live free or die! Hope the winner was from here and not just "passing thru".
I'd love to see the reaction of some if the winning ticket was sold near the Canadian border, and was bought by a true border crosser...
We can all breathe, thankfully, as it was sold no where near the Canadian border, but near the Maine border (Raymond, NH).
Winning ticket was sold at a Hannafords grocery store in Raymond. This increases the likelihood it was somebody local as this is not a border town and somewhat off the beaten path. My son in laws parents are from this town. Would be very cool (but unlikely) if they won.
Well, if trends are anything, better get PB tickets for this week. Look at how MM has played out the past few drawings!
Why do members here give congrats to these winners? I've never understood that. This is a player who potblocked all of us, and obviously it was WAY TOO EASY for them to win anyway.
Congrats to the winner(s). I live over in NY and have travelled to New Hampshire several times to visit friends and would always buy multi-draw PB/MM tickets while there, I did it for the billion dollar jackpot earlier this year. This PB run I was down in Nashville, TN a couple weeks ago and bought my multi-draws there. Tennessee and New Hampshire are similar in respect to the lottery in that there's no state tax and past winners have demonstrated the ability to remain anonymous by claiming the winnings through a trust. Hopefully the winner of this prize is aware of this option(unlike the family from Tennessee back in January) and elects to claim the winnings in this manner. Just like the family from Indiana did this week or the PB winner from Tennessee who won last November.
Not this time around. You will be lucky to see a billion dollar jackpot by December at the rate PB and MM has been rising during their roll overs.
Not only that, but it has been WAY TOO EASY for winners to win!
Maybe the NH winner was "Steve Player" - with a quick pick!
Compared to past years.....fewer winners. Already in the last 6 months of the year and only 4 draws with jackpot winners.
I would be surprised if we get to a record breaking jackpot again....but if we do, it will just make the jackpots rise at a slower pace I feel. Winners at the 450 million level will have more people jump in rather than waiting as they have over the last 3 draws to kick start a frenzy.
We need some low level wins....I will take the fall and volunteer to win the pot at 40 million!!
We're gonna see more top ten jackpots soon enough. By the end of 2016, This latest jackpot will be off the top ten. Get used to the record breaking jackpots.
I guess I should have been more clear.....
My definition of record breaking is topping the $1.5 billion jackpot.
While they will all be very nice pots to take home....I am very mweeeeeehhhhh about these other "records"...
Man alot of people secured a jackpot prize last night.. about 15 people