LANSING, Mich. – Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has grown again and, as of right now, the top prize stands at $800 million.
The jackpot will likely grow even more before Saturday night’s drawing at 10:59pm.
This is the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. The cash option for the jackpot is $496 million.
The previous record for a U.S. lottery jackpot was $656 million, according to the Michigan State Lottery. That Mega Millions jackpot was won on March 30, 2012, and split between three winning tickets (Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland). The former record Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million, won on May 18, 2013, by Gloria C. Mackenzie, of Zephyrhills, Fla.
In September, Julie Leach, of Three Rivers, won the game’s $310.5 million jackpot. In addition to Leach’s jackpot, four players won the game’s $1 million prize.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever won in Michigan was won on Aug. 15, 2012, by Donald Lawson, of Lapeer. Lawson won a $337 million Powerball jackpot that holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan.
Tickets are on sale until 9:45pm Saturday.
Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to five times may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.
The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerballlive.com/powerball. Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
We’ll have the winning numbers Saturday night on FOX 17 News at 11:00pm.
