Powerball jackpot at $250 million

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The jackpot for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing climbed to $41 million after no players matched all six numbers in Tuesday night’s game, but the really big money -- $250 million -- was up for grabs in Wednesday night’s Powerball lottery.

If a single player matches all six Powerball numbers -- 17, 28, 38, 39, 51 and Powerball 33 -- and chooses the cash option, that player will receive a one-time payout of approximately $156 million before taxes.

The Powerball jackpot has been climbing since Christmas Eve, when a single ticket sold in Maryland won a $129 million prize.

One Mega Millions player in Georgia matched the first five numbers drawn Tuesday night – 17, 23, 30, 37 and 45 – but not the Mega Ball, which was 4. That player won $250,000.

Two other players matched four of the first five numbers along with the Mega Ball, and won $10,000 each.