Lottery hopefuls across the country are dusting off their lucky charms as the Powerball jackpot has surged to 856 million dollars, marking the largest drawing of the year. For those dreaming of an immediate payout, the lump sum option currently stands at approximately 370.7 million dollars, though both figures remain subject to significant tax withholdings. While it hasn’t quite hit the billion dollar threshold required to break into the top seven all time, it remains the eighth largest Powerball prize in history and among the sixteen biggest lotteries ever seen in the United States.
Stephen Durrell, the Powerball Product Group chair and Kansas Lottery executive director, noted that prizes reaching this magnitude typically trigger a massive influx of new players. This particular drawing comes after a long dry spell for jackpot winners; there have been forty one consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner since early May. While some players have found success with smaller prizes recently, such as a lucky resident in Ohio who bagged one million dollars on Wednesday, the big prize continues to climb toward historic levels.
Adding an interesting twist to this weekend’s draw is a brand new international element. For the first time, participants from the United Kingdom are eligible to win, following the launch of ticket sales overseas on July 21. Officials suggest that adding British players to the mix could cause future jackpots to grow even faster if no one hits the winning combination this week.
Despite the excitement surrounding the massive total, experts remind players that victory remains statistically improbable. With odds sitting at roughly one in 292.2 million, most tickets will likely end up in the trash regardless of how high the stakes get. Those still feeling brave can tune in for results this Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time to see if they have become overnight billionaires.