3rd-largest US jackpot ever; 3rd-largest cash value ever
By Todd Northrop
There are going to be a lot of lottery tickets sold this week.
For only the 4th time in the history of United States lotteries, a lottery jackpot has grown to more than $600 million.
The new high-water mark of $650 million for the current Powerball jackpot was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $541.9 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $411.7 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.
There is only one Powerball jackpot that has ever grown larger than this one: The record $1.6 billion grand prize drawing on January 13, 2016, when three tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee split the winnings. The Florida and Tennessee winners claimed their prizes quickly, but the California winner waited about six months to claim their share.
The Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million, currently standing in second place on the all-time list, was won in March of 2012, split by three tickets sold in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. And in this case we're expecting the jackpot to grow a lot more by draw time.
In the drawing before the record $1.6 billion jackpot was hit, the initial estimate of $675 million was raised not once, not twice, but three times before finally reaching $949.8 Million by draw time.
Wednesday's mammoth jackpot is the result of 20 consecutive draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $40 million prize on June 14.
The winning numbers for Saturday, August 19, 2017 were 17, 19, 39, 43, and 68, with Powerball number 13. The Power Play number was 4.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 10 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 2 from Florida, 2 from Missouri, 1 from New Jersey, 1 from North Carolina, 1 from Pennsylvania, 1 from South Carolina, and 1 from Tennessee.
The California second-prize winner will receive $1,095,207, due to that state's law that requires all lottery payouts to be calculated with a pari-mutuel formula, 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. If more than one ticket in California had won second prize, the winners would have split that amount equally.
Only two of the second-prize winners purchased the Power Play option — the tickets sold in South Carolina and Tennessee. Because those tickets were purchased with the Power Play option their second-prize wins are 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.
116 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 17 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $200,000, and 18 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $15,576 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $108.1 million from its previous amount of $541.9 million. The cash value was raised by $68.5 million from its previous amount of $343.2 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, 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 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 3rd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States, and the 2nd-largest Powerball jackpot ever. Brisk sales will likely push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Wednesday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $650 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
- 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
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 7
- The Big Game: 1
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 3rd-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: $411.7 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($650 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- 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
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
I hope it get raised 3 times by Wednesday but if I'm not mistaken I think the Saturday draw generates more sales.
Meaning if it does roll it could break the record.
.
Well, I'd like to see someone win the doggone thing on Wednesday.
And generate at least 1000 (one thousand) 2nd place winners.
$650 million sounds good to me.
Nice!
Good luck to all players!!!
Good Golly, Miss Molly! All those zeros are making me dizzy! Am I developing vertigo?
daddy needs a new unimog & a place to get away from it all
Lying in bed 1/2 hour ago. Dialed KY lottery and listened to #'s, said they don't said very promising. They did not have the next PB jackpot so I knew it rolled over and thought to myself $650 million. Now if I could just predict six little numbers.
I AGREE SURE WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD HAVE THE CORRECT #'S ON ONE ROW...
By Wednesday It will be MUCH MORE THEN $650MILLION!
A $120 million dollar jump from last night's drawing!It jumped from the 8th largest to the 3rd largest in U.S History the moment nobody hit!!
If 2016 is a clue, it rolled to $675 m and on the same day went up to $700 m and the next day $800 m and the following day $900 million plus.
Trends and Patterns repeat !!!
Keep your eyes open for glitters !!!!!!!!!
Have hopes
I hope the Powerball jackpot continues to roll until one lucky ticket hits the grand prize of over $1.6 Billion dollars!
They call me RED neck, WHITE trash and BLUE collar! I could change all that if I had $650M dollars!!!!!
"Excuse me Mr. Golfer but you have been upgraded from $535M to $650M!!!!!!! Please enjoy the rest of your life in FIRST CLASS."
GOLFER: "YES MA'AM!!!!!!!
comment on having only one number on your ticket like me???
NOW......
...and THEN!!!
"Mr. Golfer, can I get you some Leggs, excuse me I meant to say "EGGS for breakfast?"
GOLFER: "YES MA'AM, I'D LIKE IT ALL!!!!"
The $535 million annuity estimate verses actual $541.9 million didn't leave much margin for error; nearly came up short. PB sales seemed slow at the various retailers I regularly play at. For once it's nice to see a California Match-5 winner receive a full $1 million and then some. Talk about being lucky.
Another thing to consider is the annuity value verses actual cash value:
The multiplier is currently a bit less than in #1 meaning it will take more sales to match the same all time record. However, the multiplier is much higher than it was back in 2012 when it took $55 million more cash ($467 million verses $411.7 million) to reach an equivalent $650 million annuity value.
Anyways, it's likely it will take two more rolls to break the $1 billion annuity level. Then it gets crazy like last time. Such as players wagering $500, $5000, etc all on Powerball. Not sure how much the player who was reported to wagering $5000 won back, but would guess it was around $500 or so tops. That's a huge loss, but then again, one has to be in it to win it. I'm skipping this one, unless I hit a Pick-X number in the meantime. If it rolls again to Saturday, then yeah I'm in.
I just hope someone that's young enough to take the annuity wins. That would be like being Tom Brady or A-Rod for the rest of your life. Their favorite book would be, "How To See Europe On Less Than $16,134 A Day"....and that's after federal tax and then there's the 5% cost-of-living increase every year!
I kind of like the little house and imagine fixing it up. Lol
Power Ball was very close to being won Saturday night, 8/19/2017 With these expected jumps in prize amounts between today and Wednesday 8/23/2017 I believe that it will be won on Wednesday night. But, Do not count Power Ball out too soon. PB might surprise us again.
I think, Groppo, tht dozens all over should be winning a piece of this. Even @ 1 million each to be shared with hundreds of people.That is what shoud be happening.
My dad keep saying even this morning at breakfast, Cassie!
You got 2 #s and the PB and Powerball but, he didn't even get 1 and he play all the time for 3 decades this and MM but stopped only this year saying it's a racket lol it's not a legitimate game or more would win, when it reach let's say over 50- million to 100 million.
Thousands of 2nd place= 50,000 (this i definitely agree with)this part should be happening.
and more than "1" or 2 or 3 players win when its this large. I also agree on this part the more i think about this.
You can get 100 winners heck, even 50 when its so so large @ feasibly a million to five million each or close to it,and STILL the GOV are getting their huge cut back ... So, i think my dad is right on many points. He said,"If more bemoan over it that the lottery will definitely allow it to happen,or if they stop playing then Lottery will allow more to win.(When its this super duper high.)
ha ha i love the 2nd home very much.
GL Wednes.Golfer. and i would keep the 1st one and fix it up,sell it and or rent it to make a lil profit extra.$
Can never have enough cash.
Thank you Ms. Cassie and good luck to you on Wednesday! Have a profitable day!!!!
Hi Artist, Fix it up like Chip and Joanna Gaines down in Waco, TX!
Lol. That is the only design show I dislike. Managed to get through 1.5 episodes. Her design skills are terrible. I like recycled or repurposed items but it looks like a Mish mash when she does it.
That house would be just perfect as a shabby front.
Add a huge underground complez with enormous garage etc and no one would no you were rich.
Good idea!
Have to imagine it will hit $800M by the time the drawing goes off.
Here we go 2 billion.
If it is not hit on Wednesday, we are definitely looking at another BILLION DOLLAR JACKPOT. Or the RECORD BREAKER!
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Wow, I agree that she goes over board with the old ruffed up items she puts in the house. I wouldn't want the worn out look mixed with the new design.
You Are Dreaming On Higher Powerball Lottery Game Jackpots, And You Are Feeling Great?
Wow big buck, I never thought of that. Brilliant idea!
The first house is the one you keep and have as your primary residence so no one knows you have any money and don't ask you for any money. Fix it up and it will be just fine. Keep your big houses and vehicles elsewhere. LOL