15th-largest US jackpot ever; 6th-largest cash value
By Todd Northrop
For only the 15th time in the history of United States lotteries, a lottery jackpot run-up has crossed into $300 million+ territory.
The new high-water mark of $305 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $253 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $203.3 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.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
The mammoth prize is the result of 14 draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on June 27, 2012.
The winning numbers for Saturday, August 11, 2012 were 4, 13, 39, 46, and 51, with Powerball number 1.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 2 from Florida, 1 from New Jersey, 1 from North Carolina, and 1 from Pennsylvania.
None of the second prize winners had purchased the Power Play option for an extra $1, which would have increased their second prize win to $2 million.
66 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 4 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $40,000.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $52 million from its previous amount of $253 million. The cash value was raised by $32.8 million from its previous amount of $170.5 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 42 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00 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 15th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Wednesday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Wednesday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $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: $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: $305 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $265 million, Apr. 18, 2006 - Ohio
- Powerball: $261.6 million, Jun. 2, 2010 - Ohio
- Powerball: $261.3 million, Jul. 9, 2003 - Missouri, Pennsylvania
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 12
- Powerball: 11
- 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.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Powerball jackpot is even better than the annuity, ranking as the sixth-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- 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: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Powerball: $203.3 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($305 million annuity) - preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Powerball: $161.5 million cash, July 29, 1998 ($295.7 million annuity) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $156.1 million cash, Sept. 16, 2005 ($258 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $153.3 million cash, Dec. 27, 2011 ($208 million annuity) - New York
I'll buy my ticket for Wed, wish me luck
PowerBall is finally in the range it was designed for, MegaMillion will just have to sat on the sideline until this run is over.
I'm tempted to drop $60 on this one but experience informs me that its not a guarantee that I will win much with that kind of purchase so $9 is all I'm spending. Good luck players.
Now Powerball is finally getting exciting to play. I now have the urge to splurge on this game! Instead of 1 or 2 tickets I will probably buy a total of 5!
POWERBALL WINNER WILL BE ME THIS WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!
POWERBALL IF YOUR WATCHING THIS SET THE TERMINALS TO HIT PAINESVILLE, OHIO
Thanks in advance for my winning jack-pot ticket!
LOL
The temptation to spend more is haunting me too. Thank god tho, they made POWERBALL $2.00 otherwise I'd prob spend $20-30 bucks on this game at the current jackpot prize level but that extra dollar keeps me in check and actually helps me budget to spend less.
I went crazy and spent $127 when Mega Millions got over 600 MILLION and I never spend more than $5-$10 per game EVER when it's below $300 MILLION.
With that money I'd start a part-time professional drag raging team (Full time if I land a sponsor). Well that, and I would arrange to finance a photoshoot of my favorite UK glamour models in my house for a week.
I am buying tickets in three states!!!
I took some time off from playing and it looks like I'm coming back to the game just in time.
I'll be looking to spend a lil more than $6 come Wednesday.
I dropped $35 on that MegaMillions jackpot and won absolutely nothing. I was so mad!
I bought a $6 Powerball ticket for last night drawing, and I won $4 for a total loss of $2. My coworkers did a powerball pool for last night drawing. They bought like 50 tickets for a zero return. I was not included in the pool. They also collected the money for Wednesday drawing , and they did not ask me to participate. Good luck to them.
well the powerball jackpot just became very very very interesting
well good luck to those playing but I think we're gonna watch it roll over once more b4 b4 it gets hit in VA
Here we go.......
Good luck everybody!
Hoping for Texas to have her first PB winner!
Me!
$305M+
You should demand to be allowed in the pool in case they win.
Then you can sue them for some kind of discrimination and have swarms of slimy, squirming, slithering lawyers descend on them and envelope them in an undulating, squirming, writhing, slithering ball of slime.
And become very rich.
Along with the lawyers.
Ha! That's the status quo for office pools.
The last office pool I was in was for the big MM - two draws worth. I normally don't do pools, hate them with a passion. On the 2nd draw, one gal out of the office of 25 was on vacation.. I paid her $1 to get her in the draw. No, I didn't get it back either. Whatever.
LOL......Don't care for lawyers much either rdgrnr?? People have offered to "let" me join their lottery pool before and it's about all I can do to not laugh at them.
I think I'll splurge this month and purchase one ticket. Maybe, not sure yet.
My rule of thimb is that I play 10% of the amount of millions.
For a 20 million dollar jackpot, I play $2, or in this case 2 picks.
For a 200 million dolar jackpot, I play $20.
For a 300 million dollar jackpot, I play $30; so on and so on.
I have several slips that are already filled out and numbered 1-4 which are ranked in importance. For a 10 million dollar jackpot I will play 1 & 2.
I'm sure that you can see the pattern and there is no need to over explain, but believe in playing the same numbers over and over it increases my chances of hitting the jackpot.
Of course I also play a few extra Easy Picks or Quick Picks. You never know.
The balloon is still swelling! Somebody is going to be very rich soon. Sucks to be an Alabamian - I may just win. On paper.
I'd be gettin' over to Georgia or up to Tennessee if I was you and at least get one multi-draw ticket for as many draws as you can get in case it keeps rollin' for a while.
Hell, you're just as likely to win as anybody else.
keep your cool people, remeber the chance to win isnt significantly increased buying 2 tickets or 100, keep some powder dry incase it jackpots.
You seem very ordered and regimened and disciplined - until we get to your last sentence and realize that you're just like the rest of us, LOL.
I'm holding on tightly for this joy ride.
Don't want it to be over for a few more weeks! 
Nah, they ain't my favorite kinda people.
Lawyers got a nasty habit of takin' all my houses and givin' 'em to all my ex-wives.
Alimony, alimony
I thought I bought steak
And it was all baloney
Me oh my, oh goodness sakes
I'm payin' for my mistakes
Same old song
With a little more blues in it
I'm payin' for it
While someone else is usin' it
Me oh my, oh goodness sakes
I'm payin' for my mistakes
~ Bobby Bare
Go for it! Dare to dream! Spend the two bucks with reckless abandon and a swashbuckling devil-may-care attitude!
Yep, too bad I have no way to get to Georgia or Tennessee since I am without a car at the moment. But one day, I'll be going over to play.
Really need to expand the variety of headline titles...
In reference to Cash 5, it clearly states on the ticket you can win ten dollars on just two numbers until the end of August. I have two tickets rejected that this is not a winning ticket. It states every one in ten tickets are winners. Tried to cash them in, the machine rejected them as winning tickets Tried to email the lottery no response!
Three states? Such as Mental State , Natural State , ANd State of Confusion? I've been there , Good luck and may you cash in!
Greyhound goes to Chattanooga.
I want as many people as possible kickin' in to my jackpot.
"Would I trade all this free time for camera time....Will I blow all this money baby HAMMER TIME.. I just need some closure, ain't no turning back for me I'm in it till it's over!"
DRAKE
" I will let you guys know when I win the jackpot on Wednesday."
Be sure to try to buy your tickets in a state that allows for some degree of confidentiality if you win. DC does so I willl not be buying my tickets in VA. While I would rather see VA profit from any win, it would not be worth it if I won.
I also woke up with 5 numbers running through my head (which is odd) but I am sure they will be as successful as that fortune cookie lottery #s. Maybe I should buy 2 tickets with the same number (different PB #s) so if I win 2nd place, I can have 2 x more.
You should drop another 4$ and get the free ticket.
Will it go to 400 Million if it rolls over.LOL
Depending on how brisk the sales go, it should get close. Realistically if it rolls once more, more like $375-375 million would be my guess.
In 2 rolls yes. So, the Wednesday after this one. I think everybody who usually buys tickets are already in it. So, it can't grow faster.
By the time it hits 500, people who usually buy tickets will go broke and will borrow from their relatives.
By the time it will hit 600, our neighbors from Canada will come to visit us more ofter.
By the time it will hit 700, we will see the same 3 asset managers, who somehow managed to buy $2 ticket for one dollar. They will bring money to the person who audits power ball drawings as reward for his/her hard work.
Just spend $10.00 going to buy $ 30.00 for Wednesday.
Ka-Ching $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$152,475,000 in the bank if you win in Pennsylvania ................ I will mitigate the rest of the Federal Taxes ............ by the way, $50,825,000 to $71,155,000 in taxes is a mighty fair share!
good luck to all ........................
HAHAHAHA! That reminds me of a comedian that said....Instead of getting married again I'm just going to go out and find a woman I don't like and buy her a house.
You spent $6????
I am SO disappointed in you. Thats $5 too many!!! You cant seem to practice what you preach!!!
You have a job and a pool? And you didnt ask to join? WOW...you are also a fool
.
Maybe they did not ask you because you are a wretched miser (no offense intended), and they thought your PEF was lacking.
BTW Good LUck!! Congrats on your win!!!
IF it rolls, it will be $422m. <-- based upon 30% roll increase in cash value from last night and the current 62.4% cv of the annuity. Cash value will be $263.8m.
Ain't gonna happen. I've got the winning number on my filled out slip. Sorry y'all. Better luck next time.
You're pretty and smart!
I play the lottery according to my signature. I usually buy a single line, but I also buy multiple tickets when I feel like. I asked the pool organizer to let me join. She told me that it was too late because they already collected and bought the tickets for Wednesday.She said that she will give me something if they won. I said no Thank you and wished them good luck.
I did not win because I spent $6 and won $4 for a $2 loss.
I can not wait to go to the Bellagio and get in a Villa and fly by leer jet too. Eat steak and drink crystal or maybe dom perignon. Yes it is going to be awesome then it is alcohol and booty calls the rest of the time I am their. Whoooo hooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-weshar75
$305 million sounds good to me
I hear ya weshar! Party on my brother!
Turning $10 into $305 Millions is a great return on investment.
Thank you, but not so much smart, really... I'm an accountant.
Numbers are... facinating...
Bellagio! The Wynn would be a good one to stay at, too. Either one is good for a luxury property. Both are full of old people though. LOL. Caesar's Palace or MGM are the way to go.
Yeah weshar, I can see it now:
I want to go there too!
Do the pool members know the pool organizer is telling co-workers that didn't contribute that they will get something if the pool wins?
Must be somewhere in the bylaws, terms and conditions, full disclosure, and agreement to pay pool members who don't contribute forms.
I have been wanting to go for a while now. So when I win on wednesday night I can finally go!-weshar75
Yeah but you gotta spend $10, so that would never happen.
The current cash value of $203.3 milion is 66.66% of the anuity value. A 30% increase would bring it to $264.3 million. If that cash value remains 66.66% of the annuity value the advertised annuity jackpot will be $396.5 million.If that's the range MUSL thinks is reasonable they might just advertise it as an even 400, since that will probably create a much bigger frenzy than 396.5, even though they're practically the same amount.
Wow if i win this am going to finally be able to marry one of the deal or no deal models or a miss universe beauty contestant from as far as the south or north pole only if they sign a 30yrs marriage warranty and take a polygrapgh test to ensure they are not too crazy or have murder mystery ideas or watch too much CSI. lol