Someone could become very, very rich this weekend. The Powerball jackpot for Saturday, January 9, is now at an estimated $800 million, the largest jackpot in U.S. history.
The historic prize first rose on Wednesday, January 6, when that evening’s draw of $524 million didn’t produce a matching ticket. The winning numbers were 2, 11, 47, 62, 63, with Powerball 17. The cash payout for that night would have come to approximately $428.4 million before taxes, according to the Powerball website. The Powerball has steadily increased since last November.
On Friday morning, officials said that the Powerball lottery had reached an estimated $800 million. The payout for a single winner would result in a lump-sum payout of $496 million, according to NBC News.
The final payout for the jackpot will depend on the winner’s tax rate, as well as the state and local taxes where they live, according to ABC News.
The upcoming Powerball jackpot breaks the March 2012 jackpot record, when the Mega Millions drawing rose to $656 million. Three winners in three states split the payout.
Wondering which state has been the luckiest in the past?
Since 2003, 16 Powerball jackpot winners have purchased their tickets in Pennsylvania. Powerball is played in 44 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Unfortunately, the odds of winning the jackpot are, well, extremely unlikely — 1 in 292.2 million.
Tell Us: Will you be buying a ticket (or two)?
