Powerball Jackpot Climbs To Historic $700 Million
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Lottery officials say the estimated prize for this weekend's Powerball drawing is the largest jackpot of any lottery game in U.S. history.
No one matched the numbers drawn for Wednesday night's estimated $500 million jackpot -- 2-11-47-62-63-17 -- so Saturday's Powerball drawing will be worth about $700 million -- and that number will likely rise as the drawing nears.
The cash option for Saturday's drawing is now approximately $428.4 million.
The previous record for a U.S. lottery jackpot was $656 million. That Mega Millions jackpot was won on March 30, 2012, and split between three winning tickets (Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland). The former record Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million, won on May 18, 2013, by a Florida woman.
The biggest jackpot won in Michigan is a $337 million Powerball jackpot, won by a Lapeer man in August 2012.
Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Tickets cost $2 each and can be purchased until 9:45 p.m. Saturday. The drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m.
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