Powerball jackpot hits a record $1.6 billion - NBC News

Saturday's Powerball jackpot has accrued to $1.6 cardinal — a satellite record, according to lottery officials.

The prize has grown truthful ample due to the fact that the past clip idiosyncratic won the jackpot was Aug. 3, 3 months ago. The winning summons was sold successful Pennsylvania.

Once again connected Wednesday, no 1 matched each 5 numbers — 02-11-22-35-60 with the Powerball of 23.

However, 16 tickets matched each 5 achromatic balls to triumph $1 million, lottery officials said. In each 7.2 cardinal tickets won currency prizes successful Wednesday's drawing, totaling $74.9 million.

The caller jackpot eclipses the erstwhile record of $1.586 cardinal won by radical successful 3 states successful 2016.

"There’s a batch of anticipation and excitement starring up to Saturday’s drawing,” said Drew Svitko, Powerball Product Group Chair and Pennsylvania Lottery enforcement director, successful a news release. “We would similar to punctual players that it lone takes 1 summons to win. Please, play responsibly.”

If nary 1 wins Saturday, the crippled grounds for the fig of consecutive drawings without a expansive prize victor volition beryllium tied astatine 41 drawings. The longest jackpot tally successful Powerball past ended connected Oct. 4, 2021. The likelihood of winning the jackpot are 1 successful 292.2 million.

A $1.6 cardinal jackpot’s currency worth is $782.4 million. If the victor chose the currency option, 24% would beryllium withheld successful national taxes — a whopping $187.8 million, CNBC reported.

People tin acquisition tickets for $2. They are sold successful 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The drafting happens astatine 10:59 p.m. ET, and summons merchantability cutoffs alteration by jurisdiction, but are usually 1 to 2 hours before.