Powerball jackpot up to $1.6 billion, new lottery record
Two Powerball playslips sit on top of a piece of scratch paper at Bluebird Liquor in Hawthorne, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. The fourth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history could soar to the largest ever if no one wins the top prize in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
DES MOINES, Iowa – Strong sales boosted a Powerball jackpot to an estimated $1.6 billion on Friday, making it the largest lottery prize in history.
A drawing will be held Saturday night for the Powerball prize , which hasn’t been won in more than three months. That string of 39 consecutive drawings without a winner is a reflection of the tough odds of winning a jackpot , at 1 in 292.2 million.
The advertised jackpot is the prize for a winner who chooses an annuity, paid annually over 29 years. Almost all winners instead opt for the cash prize, which for Saturday night’s drawing would be an estimated $782.4 million.
The new jackpot tops the previous record prize of $1.586 billion won in 2016 by three Powerball players in California, Florida and Tennessee.
Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Top headlines ▶ 1:51
Top headlines
The lines above Houston ▶ 1:16
The lines above Houston
Conroe judge facing DWI charge hosts campaign event, avoids questions about criminal history ▶ 0:29
Conroe judge facing DWI charge hosts campaign event, avoids questions about criminal history
Convicted felon accused of sexually assaulting high schooler after offering ride to police station ▶ 0:53
Convicted felon accused of sexually assaulting high schooler after offering ride to police station
Houston's forecast for MLK Day! ▶ 0:26
Houston's forecast for MLK Day!
8-year-old boy reports sexual assault at NRG Stadium during Texans game ▶ 0:42
8-year-old boy reports sexual assault at NRG Stadium during Texans game
This week in Houston temperatures ▶ 0:54
This week in Houston temperatures
Longer days are coming to Houston ▶ 1:29
Longer days are coming to Houston
Heaven’s 27 Foundation: Turning Tragedy into Camp Safety Reform ▶ 1:07
Heaven’s 27 Foundation: Turning Tragedy into Camp Safety Reform
Texans prepare for Patriots in divisional round after wild card win ▶ 0:52
Texans prepare for Patriots in divisional round after wild card win
Texas investigates grocery chains over undisclosed pesticide-like spray on produce ▶ 1:04
Texas investigates grocery chains over undisclosed pesticide-like spray on produce
Driver killed in crash involving wrecker truck on Katy Freeway near Studemont ▶ 0:43
Driver killed in crash involving wrecker truck on Katy Freeway near Studemont
Top headlines ▶ 2:07
Top headlines
Cedar fever and your allergies ▶ 2:07
Cedar fever and your allergies
Court docs say suspect in UH campus bank robbery kidnapped, sexually assaulted Baytown employee ▶ 0:41
Court docs say suspect in UH campus bank robbery kidnapped, sexually assaulted Baytown employee
17-year-old charged with murder rolls eyes at judge ▶ 1:14
17-year-old charged with murder rolls eyes at judge
Beautiful winter week in Houston ▶ 0:43
Beautiful winter week in Houston
Crews work to contain massive fire at church building off of North Freeway ▶ 0:32
Crews work to contain massive fire at church building off of North Freeway
Two Cold Fronts Hit Houston: What to Expect This Week in Weather ▶ 0:49
Two Cold Fronts Hit Houston: What to Expect This Week in Weather
Woman is using United Way to help her get to financial freedom ▶ 1:14
Woman is using United Way to help her get to financial freedom
Top headlines for Jan. 12 ▶ 1:41
Top headlines for Jan. 12
26.2 miles. Thousands of reasons. 🏃♀️🏃♂️ ▶ 2:07
26.2 miles. Thousands of reasons. 🏃♀️🏃♂️
HPD: Man with felony warrant resists arrest leading to officer shooting ▶ 0:44
HPD: Man with felony warrant resists arrest leading to officer shooting
Here's what we're talking about Sunday morning! ▶ 0:39
Here's what we're talking about Sunday morning!
RUNNERS, are you READY?! 🏃♂️🏃♀️ All your training has led you here — the Chevron Houston Marathon is TODAY! ▶ 0:59
RUNNERS, are you READY?! 🏃♂️🏃♀️ All your training has led you here — the Chevron Houston Marathon is TODAY!
Previous photo Next photo