Powerball Climbs To $675M -- Largest Jackpot In US History
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Someone in California won $1 million Wednesday -- they missed another $499 million by that much.
Specifically, the person with that almost winner, missed the Powerball # of 17. (The ticket was sold at Perry's Liquor Store in Union City, near Fremont in the Bay area.)
Winning numbers drawn in the $2 game of chance were 2, 11, 47, 62, 63. Had that ticket holder picked 17 as well, they would have walked away with $500 million.
A frenzy has gripped the nation -- and it happens any time a lottery jackpot hits $100 million or more.
Powerball officials announced Wednesday that no tickets matched all six numbers -- the jackpot is climbing to a US record of $675 million and that number could climb by Saturday's draw.
If you took the cash value payout, you'd pocket $413.1 million before tax. Deep pockets required.
Other current jackpots of note: Mega Millions is at $165 million for Friday, SuperLotto Plus is at $8 million for Saturday
The $675 million Powerball for Saturday just edges out previous high North American jackpot in March 2012 in the Mega Millions game. People in three states split that prize.
The highest previous Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million won by one woman in Florida in 2013.
Powerball starts at $40 million and climbs every time there is no winner. The game is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The $1 Mega Millions is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.
California SuperLotto Plus reached a high of $193 million in February 2002. Three different ticket holders split that prize. The largest single SuperLotto winner hit a jackpot of $141 million in June 2001.
