Don't Forget A Ticket! Powerball Jackpot Grows To Whopping $500 Million
DETROIT (WWJ) - Wednesday's Powerball jackpot has grown to one of the biggest prizes ever in the multi-state lottery game.
Lottery officials said Wednesday afternoon that the jackpot will be worth a whopping $500 million. The cash option is about $306 million.
The Michigan Lottery's Jeff Holyfield said the odds of winning are more than 292 million to one -- but that's shouldn't stop you because people do win.
"Last year we had four players that won $1 million playing the Powerball and of course, back on September 30 we had Julie Leach of Three Rivers who won $310.5 million playing the Powerball. So, somebody's going to win, but you know you can't win if you don't play," he said.
Holyfield said most people will buy their tickets Wednesday, but it's spilt pretty evenly whether people pick their own numbers or have the machine do it for them.
Tickets cost $2 each and can be purchased until 9:45 p.m. Wednesday. The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m.
If a Michigan player win’s Wednesday'’s $500 million jackpot, it would be the largest Powerball prize won in the state. On Aug. 15, 2012, Donald Lawson, of Lapeer, won a $337 million Powerball jackpot. Lawson'’s jackpot holds the current record for the largest lottery prize ever won in Michigan.
The biggest Powerball jackpot ever was won in May 2013 when a Florida woman won $590.5 million.
