Powerball Jackpot Hits $500 Million
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Lotto fever has hit the Southland as Wednesday night's jackpot climbed to $500 million.
The lucky winner who matches all six numbers will have the option of taking an estimated lump sum of more than $330 million. The store that sells the winning ticket will also pocket $1 million.
Chances of winning are 1 in 176 million.
QUESTION: What would be the first three things you would do if you won? Answer below in "Comments."
The numbers most frequently drawn since Powerball began sales in 2013 were 54, 2, 9, 28, 19 and 49, according to the California Lottery. The most-drawn Powerball numbers were 17, 20 and 29.
Wednesday's jackpot is the third largest of all time and the largest Powerball jackpot since Aug. 2013.
California's biggest Powerball winner, to date, won $425.3 million in February 2014. That was the game's
fourth biggest ever jackpot.
The $2 Powerball game is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Powerball starts at $40 million and climbs every time there is no winner. The record jackpot reached $590 million in May 2013. That ticket was sold in Florida.
CBS2's Michele Gile reported from "a lucky place" in Little Saigon in Westminster.
Gile said people were coming in and out of Gallop Liquor all day. Several thousand tickets were sold there Wednesday.
She spoke to a man named Andre who was convinced he had the winner in his hand.
"Yes, I have the winner," he said, "today is the birthday of my son." Andre also said he planned on buying a house with his winnings. "And a Lamborghini," he added.
The drawing will take place at 7:59 p.m.
If no one hits the jackpot Wednesday evening, lottery officials told Gile the prize could ramp up to as much as $650 million for Saturday.
