Powerball Jackpot Hits $700 Million in Today’s Drawing – Fifth Highest Jackpot in Powerball History

The Powerball jackpot skyrocketed to $700 million on Tuesday after no one picked all six winning numbers Monday night, making the fifth largest prize in the history of the game.

With 35 consecutive drawings without a top prize, Wednesday’s jackpot was the biggest Powerball win of the year.

However, the one-time jackpot payout option, which lottery officials say most people choose, is now $336 million.

Players will also have the choice of an annuity option – paid in installments over 29 years. Those who choose money for money see their winnings decrease by almost 30 percent.

Just two months ago, that payout was closer to $413 million — a difference of $77 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are an astronomical 1 in 292 million. For reference, the odds of being struck by lightning are much more realistic at 1 in 15,000.

The odds of winning the jackpot are an astronomical 1 in 292 million. For reference, the odds of being struck by lighting are much more realistic at 1 in 15,000

The top prize reached $637.8 million ahead of Monday night’s drawing, which featured The winning numbers drawn were 18-23-35-45-54 and Powerball 16. The multiplier was 4X.

One lucky bettor in Texas matched five numbers to win a whopping $1 million — although the top prize still can’t be claimed by citizens of the 45 states where the lotto operates.

When it turned out that no one won the top prize, the jackpot grew to $680 million. However, this rise was short-lived and it bounced back to its current $700 million in a matter of hours.

That number could still increase before Wednesday’s drawing, but another $31.2 million will be needed to become the 4th largest prize in the game’s 30-year history.

The jackpot is the largest Powerball prize this year, the fifth largest for Powerball and the eighth largest lottery jackpot in the U.S., according to a Powerball news release.

Since August 3, no one has matched all six numbers and won the Powerball top prize.

The sum comes as there have been no winners after 35 consecutive draws, allowing the Wednesday night jackpot to slowly grow for almost three months

The top prize reached $637.8 million before Monday night’s drawing, which drew the winning numbers 18-23-35-45-54 and Powerball of 16. The multiplier was 4X

The largest lottery jackpot was the $1.586 billion Powerball prize won by three ticket holders in 2016.

Last July, one lucky person from Illinois won a staggering $1.337 billion in the Mega Millions jackpot – odds of an even more astronomical 1 in 302 million.

The prize was the third-biggest jackpot in US lottery history, after a South Carolina bettor won $1.537 billion four years earlier in another lucrative Mega Millions drawing.

For the lucky ones, tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

According to Powerball, more than half of all proceeds stay in the jurisdiction where the ticket was purchased – the drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET.

The drawings will also be streamed live on Powerball.com.