E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe drawing for the Powerball jackpot, now at 320 million takes place Saturday. The jackpot is the sixth highest ever. People in 42 states and Washington, D.C., were scrambling for tickets, even with odds at about 175 million to one. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
The line forms here, or more likely out on the sidewalk and down the block. Wannabe millionaires were flocking to convenience stores, gas stations and other lottery outlets to get in on Saturday's Powerball drawing, the sixth-richest ever, at $320 million.
"While this is business as usual, we do expect our retail locations to see an increase in foot traffic over the weekend, as sales have already been brisk," Jeff Anderson, director of the Idaho Lottery, one of the 43 state lotteries that will take part in Saturday night's drawing, told NBC station KTVB of Boise, Idaho.
Saturday's jackpot swelled after no one won Wednesday's top prize of $261.6 million — the 12th straight drawing without a winner — and players were streaming into New Orleans lottery sellers before dawn Friday in what officials called a "Powerball frenzy," NBC station WDSU of New Orleans reported.
The Multi-State Lottery Association, which administers Powerball, said the odds of hitting the precise combination of five numbers plus the Powerball multiplier were 175,223,510 to 1. Winners can take the full $320 million spread out over 30 years, or they can opt for an immediate one-time payout of $198.3 million.
The biggest jackpot was handed out only four months ago, when two winners in Arizona and Missouri split $587.5 million. Here are the rest of the top five:
- $365 million: One winner in Nebraska on Feb. 18, 2006.
- $340 million: Two winners in Oregon on Oct. 19, 2005.
- $337 million: One winner on Aug. 15, 2012, in Michigan.
- $336.4 million: One winner in Rhode Island on Feb. 11, 2012.
Anderson of the Idaho lottery warned players to be careful, because the prospect of loot like that can lure them into trouble.
"Big Powerball jackpots are a lot of fun," he said. But "we want to remind everyone that when they do play to only spend what they can afford — not to go overboard. It does only take one ticket to win."
Saturday's drawing is at 9:55 p.m. ET.
Leave a Comment:
If I win I am going to buy me a bunch of politicians!
It's a government scheme to rip you off.
I'd like to rip your keyboard out of your hands. How's life on welfare? Must be pretty boring, but then if you're fat and lazy, it's just what you want. Oink.
what isnt a government scheme to rip us off. we have a better chance of winning the lottery than the king doing anthing worthwhile to help this country! big jackpots means more money for golf with tiger woods.
artsylady----your comment is just wrong. why not just say "if you're lazy". a person does not have to be overweight to be lazy. i see many skinny people VERY lazy where the larger ones are the ones doing the work.
They say you have better odds hitting this powerball lottery win..then betting and winning the NCAA bracket of 64 teams.
Government makes more from lottery tickets sold.
If you don't like the lottery, don't play it! Who cares if they make money off it, last time I checked they needed some!
gov. scheme?
Big deal. That's not much better than an even-money bet.
Wow...whoever wins could help cut the deficit....out of patriotism!
They do. The greedy government takes a nice chunk out of the winnings before the winner even gets paid.
gov get's it all. they pay winner 4% interest per year then cancel the dept. after 25 years. Die and you'll give 55% inheritence tax.
When I found my Horse "Big Tex" at 711 buying a powerball ticket the other day, my first concern was who drove him down here....little did I know that my dog Russ was the driver, waitin patiently across the street with the getaway truck...
So these two are grounded, and if they win this powerball, I get 50% of the cut...
.
If i win ..will i turn out like a tea nut..greedy and selfish bastard..no..there were lot's of rich patriots in the bible.but the party today..are like Judas
Are you sure you wouldn't act like the other rich libtards, demanding that taxes be raised while at the same time having a team of tax attournies pulling every trick in the book so that you pay the least taxes?
I have an account all setup in the Cayman Islands.
You're confused. To say the least. Also: "attorney."
I tend to see it for what it is...A nice fantasy for a buck.
I'll pay for a spelling tutor for flatiron...you're welcome.
Sorry folks - I bought the winning ticket today. Better luck next time.
when will they let CA join the fun!
April or May I think
pigotry and docholly are text book lottery players... the do nothing but post meaningless crap on nbcnews all day long! Get a life girls, get a job!
Too Late ! They have already been sold !
I'll buy 2 tickets, that way when i lose I won't feel too bad.
I would build a cement bunker like Hitler. Fill it with food, water, guns,ammo and everything I think I might need. That is if my wife will let me. Good to see you, Bill.
Oh I forgot, a toilet you don't have to flush three times because it "saves" water.
Lowest percentage payout. The numbers runner in your neighborhood give better odds.
let me get this straight: I win $320 million....then, the Government takes their share and leave me with $#198.03. Why in the heck are they taking $121.97 million?
Not quite -- they're estimating that they will sell $198.3 million through ticket sales. If you choose the annual payout, they give you your first payment and then invest the rest for you into high-yielding securities, and since they don't have to pay taxes on the principal you will, in the end, take home $320 million. If you do decide to take the lump sum, you will only receive the $198.3 million, which will then be taxed accordingly. Of course, you do have to pay taxes on the annual payments you receive, but since each payment will count as an individual year's earnings and therefore start in the lowest tax brackets, you will pay proportionately less than if you took the lump sum, since more of a lump sum payment would fall into the highest tax brackets.
For more information, see here:
Also, if you enjoy the services of or using schools, roads, parks, healthcare, waste management, town planning, law enforcement, public housing/transportation/libraries, social services, military protection (although this is grossly overdone), or any other service provided or cost-reduced by the government, then taxes are pretty darn awesome and important!
198.3 is the cash from sales. 35% of that goes to the government and then state taxes. 6% here in GA. If I spend $2 and get $117 mill after taxes, no complaints here.
198,3 million is what they put into an annuity and pay you on a yearly basis for 30 years equaling 320 million.
Winners can take the full $320 million spread out over 30 years, or they can opt for an immediate one-time payout of $198.3 million.
You could take the 198.3 million, put it in an annuity and in 30 years you could draw 230 million.
wonder what the states and feds will do with their half.
They tax at 35% like they always have, then the state takes their cut also.
Some states don't tax lottery winnings...Others do
Incorrect Starbuck. The Feds will now take 39.6% The Dems are pushing for the upper tax bracket to be raised to 49.7%. You know, they have to take from those "evil rich people" to spread the wealth to the deadbeat 47% that pay NO TAXES.
The rich can afford a tax a lot more than someone making minimum wage.
Benny
here are 6 states that don't have a state tax.
Starbuck-What happened to shared sacrifice?? Just more bullcrap from your president?
So you want to tax the poor that have enough money for food and basic needs and let the richer slide?
The 47% consist of retired citizens living on a meager pension, unemployed vets, normal people that have lost their jobs because of the 2008 recession and a number of others.
You need to stop drinking the demoncrap Kool-Aid, starbuck. The demographics you described do not make up the 47%, but only about 15% of the population, according to census statistics. The other 32% are generational welfare recipients, illegal aliens and lazy bums looking for a free ride. If you tax the rich 100% of their income, you still cannot make a dent in the out of control spending of the liberal demoncraps.
Bob, you brought up the 47% of deadbeats in post 20.3, then last post you mention 32%, can't you get your numbers right?
You know, they have to take from those "evil rich people" to spread the wealth to the deadbeat 47% that pay NO TAXES.
The demographics you described do not make up the 47%, but only about 15% of the population, according to census statistics. The other 32% are generational welfare recipients, illegal aliens and lazy bums looking for a free ride.
As Harry once said--"are you feeling lucky,punk?"
I'll take $4,900 of that please, not a greedy person, would be just enough to pay my credit cards off.
Fed Gov Tax on stupid. 1$ From each play up front + 35% from the winner(s)
> T H E O N L Y W A Y T O W I N I S N O T T O P L A Y
>
>
Pig,
It's a government scheme to rip you off??? Wait a minute! You love the government. The bigger the better. You get your check from them every month. But THAT isn't a government scheme to rip you off is it? Well not you. Just the people who work.
And by the way, how many tickets did you buy?
If I win, I am going to buy all brand new friends.
And a hot rod sports car.
And the local police, and judges, too.
Later when they advance further in medicine, I'm going to get a brain transplant, one with nothing but good memories.
Haa! "buy all brand new friends"
Flylowguy...you won't have to buy them. I'm sure they will find you..LOL
Why is it everytime i see a blog/post that the government comes up? Death and taxes....they'll always be a part of life...forever! Anyway, the Powerball odds are astronomical so I really hope people play for the fun of it! The odds are so astronomical that I would bet my year's salary ($102,000) that no one from my entire state hits it today....Indiana, by the way. However, when that lucky person(s) hits it...I'm gonna be a little jealous.