In the US, the Powerball lottery jackpot has grown to $1.6 billion, making it the world’s largest top prize in lottery history. The Powerball jackpot is now the “biggest lottery prize ever offered in the world,” the lottery operator said ahead of Saturday night’s draw.
The jackpot has grown steadily since there was last a winner in early August. Since then, no player has been able to pick six correct numbers in 39 draws.
If a player hits the jackpot on Saturday night, he can expect $1.6 billion, the equivalent of about CHF 1.6 billion. He can have the amount paid out over a period of approximately 30 years, or opt for a one-off payment of nearly $782.4 million.
US entry only
In January 2016, three Powerball players shared the world’s largest jackpot in history, worth $1.586 billion. The second highest jackpot – and the highest won by a single player – was worth $1,537 billion and was struck in the Mega Millions lottery in October 2018.
Powerball raffle tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 US states and the metropolitan areas of Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the jackpot are about one in 292 million. By comparison, the risk of being struck by lightning in the United States is about one in a million. (AFP/kes)