The Powerball jackpot is now up to an unprecedented $900 million, meaning a lucky winner in today’s drawing could walk away with more than a half a billion dollars cash.
With the cash option, a single winner in Saturday’s drawing could take a lump sum of about $558 million, or opt to receive payments over 29 years.
The federal and state tax bite would cut that to about $385 million.
Saturday night’s drawing offers the highest payout ever for any lottery game in the United States. The previous Powerball record was a $590.5 million jackpot in 2013, paid out to a single Florida winner.
The prize nearly doubled to a truly astronomical high because sales of the lottery tickets have soared in recent days, making lines of customers at convenience stores a common sight.
The odds of winning are also microscopically low: one chance in 292 million.
That didn’t stop people from lining up nine and 10 deep Saturday afternoon at Flowery Branch-based Clipper Petroleum’s service station across from Perimeter Mall. More than 30 cars jammed the service station’s ramp outside.
Trey Boatman, of Buckhead, said he bought three Powerball tickets.
“Oh goodness, I would do so many great things with this money. I would bless a lot of people,” the financial advisor at Edward Jones said of his winnings if he beats the odds. He said he’d give money to family and friends, charities such as Unicef, and his alma mater, the University of Alabama.
He’d also pursue an acting career, he said. “I wouldn’t be working,” said Boatman.
Jo Rice, who was also standing in line to buy something else, said she was satisfied with the two tickets she had already purchased elsewhere.
“My chances are slim to none,” said the medical transcriptionist from Chattanooga, who was visiting her daughter in Atlanta. “I’m not going to go crazy.”
On Wednesday, no one won what was already a huge $500 million-plus jackpot, setting up Saturday’s new record drawing.
One lucky customer in Savannah did win a $1 million jackpot in Wednesday’s drawing.
About the Author
