TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Saturday's Powerball jackpot crossed the $900 million threshold hours before the drawing, the largest in United States. history.
No one claimed the winning numbers in Wednesday's drawing.
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1 of 4 | A digital Powerball lottery display is above the check out counter at a store in New York City on January 9, 2016. The Powerball prize today climbed from $800 to $900 Million dollars and the winner will take home an estimated $558 million if they choose a lump-sum cash prize, lottery officials announced Saturday morning. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Wednesday's numbers -- for a jackpot of $524 million -- were 2, 11, 47, 62 and 63, with a Powerball number of 17 and a multiplier of 3. Although there was one "Match 5 Power Play" winner of $2 million, several "Match 5" winners of $1 million in 12 states and more than seven million winners of other, smaller amounts, no one hit the jackpot. The dollar figure of Saturday's big prize thus rolls over, and increases with every ticket sold until Saturday.
Wednesday's payout, had it occurred, could have had an estimated pre-tax cash value of more than $300 million if taken as a lump sum, or more if the option of a 29-year annuity was chosen. The estimated lump sum payment for Saturday's drawing is currently $558 million.
The drawing is Saturday night at 10:59 p.m EST.
If no one claims the winning numbers in Saturday's drawing, the jackpot will rise to a whopping $1.3 billion for Wednesday's drawing.
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Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
