Powerball jumps to $485 million as ticket sales surge

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Strong ticket sales have pushed the value of the top prize in Wednesday's Powerball drawing from $450 million to $485 million, the third largest jackpot in Powerball history. If taken as a lump-sum cash payout, the Jackpot pays $327.7 million before taxes.

After nobody won Saturday's $380 million drawing, the jackpot rose to $450 million dollars, but a weekend of strong sales saw that number grow to almost half-a-billion, with the potential to increase again before Wednesday's drawing as most lottery players buy their tickets the day numbers are pulled.

According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, Powerball tickets in the Keystone State are currently selling at a rate of 2,300 tickets-per-minute. In Michigan over 1.2 million Powerball tickets have been sold thus far.

While Saturday's drawing had no top winner, $29,571,721 in prizes were awarded to ticket holders around the United States.