A single victor of Saturday’s record $800 million Powerball jackpot who chooses the lump sum option would have $496 million before taxes.
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The one in almost 300 million odds of winning Saturday night’s Powerball drawing aren’t discouraging droves of locals from trying to nab the winning ticket to the lottery’s $800 million jackpot.
Grief says Powerball sales on Thursday were double the previous record for that day and that it’s possible the estimated jackpot could rise again before the drawing.
To win the jackpot, a ticket holder has to match all the numbers on the six balls selected.
Saturday’s jackpot, the largest in history, is estimated at $800 million. “When we’re out there at the stores, people are walking in and they’re dropping a lot of money on the counter”, said Richard Lopez with the California Lottery District.
However, if you miss the live drawing, the app – created by Shoutz, Inc. – will notify you if you won the jackpot or one of the many non-jackpot prizes offered in the Powerball lottery game.
Wasserstein said he understands why so many people buy Powerball tickets, calling it a small price for a chance to dream of enormous riches.
“Pople start taking notice when it’s like $250 million for the jackpot; once you hit the $500 million mark, sales just go insane, not just in South Dakota, but nationwide”, South Dakota Lottery public relations director Kelly Thompson said.
Watch the Powerball drawing live Saturday on Channel 2 right before the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11. That’s to guarantee they get at least part of their share.
The $800 million is based on annuity payments over 30 years, which would be roughly $27.7 million annually pre-tax.
For first time players just looking for a shot at that $800 million jackpot, that first taste of playing the Powerball often times leaves them coming back for more down the road.
The Powerball website says legally purchased tickets can play the game and collect prizes anywhere in the world.
“People are out buying them in droves”, he said. Then you’ll pay more taxes on those earnings in your income tax return the following year.
Players in Lincoln, Nebraska, said they don’t expect to win, but most noted that eventually, someone will take home all that money.
Bashir Rahman, a chef from Moscow, Idaho, who was traveling through Nebraska, said he chose to buy a couple tickets at a Casey’s gas station in Lincoln, but he realizes it’s a long, long shot.
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“I would still have ideal attendance”, he said.
