Powerball Jackpot Balloons To More Than $1B; Drawing On Wednesday
By Kelly Ryan
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – It's being called one of the largest lottery pots the world has ever seen and it's up for grabs Wednesday.
The record jackpot is so big, billboards can't even show the correct amount. One sign in New York was maxed out at $999 million, unable to display the actual $1.3 billion jackpot that's at stake.
Meanwhile, Powerball players didn't waste time rushing to their lucky ticket dealers to purchase what they hope to be the winning numbers.
"And I think I'm that one. I'm a lucky guy. I'm a lucky guy for real," lottery player Eric Morgan said.
No one matched all six Powerball numbers after Saturday's drawing. Lottery officials say about 75% of all possible numbers combinations were used.
The odds of winning the $1.3 billion dollar prize? 292 million to one.
The Powerball jackpot has ballooned since November 4, starting at a mere $40 million.
The winner can choose annual payments over 29 years, or a lump sum cash payment of $806 million. A big chunk goes to federal income taxes.
This kind of cash is bringing young and old, veterans and beginning Powerball players – who are already dreaming of what they would do with the cash.
"I'd pay off my kids houses and take them all on a vacation," Mike Hinkle said.
"I'd keep my circle real tight as tight as I could. And, probably change my name and move to some island somewhere," Joe Ricci said.
People living in 44 states, as well as in the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are eligible to play Powerball. The next drawing is this Wednesday night.
It's said the chances of picking the right combination of numbers is like flipping a coin and getting heads 28 times in a row.
But one person in Stockton has hit it big in the in-state Super Lotto Plus jackpot game. The person won $8 million dollars over 30 years, or $5 million upfront. The winning ticket was purchased in Stockton at the 7-Eleven at 7647 Pacific Avenue.
No one has come forward yet to claim that prize.
