Powerballwill be drawing its winning lottery numbers Monday night for a record 46th time since its last jackpot was claimed, as a string of failed sweepstakes ballooned the top prize to $1.6 billion.
So far, it's the5th-largest jackpotin U.S. history after more than three months without a Powerball winner. The game's long odds created a massive windfall that has enticed people to splurge on $2 tickets ahead of the live drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET Monday night.
Lottery officialsmade the odds tougherin 2015 to create these humongous jackpots and draw more attention, while also making it easier to win smaller prizes.
Experts say it's a sign the lottery is operating exactly as designed, and that no one should really expect to match all six numbers and make a killing. Still, somebody will likely win at some point, and many players are hoping to be that lucky winner.
"Everybody wants to be a millionaire," said Saqi Anwer, an Atlanta gas station manager who sold $800 worth of tickets on Saturday.
How much would the winner take home?
Monday's estimated $1.6 billion jackpot has a cash value of $735.3 million.
That means a winner can choose to be paid the whole amountthrough an annuity,with an immediate payment and then annual payments over 29 years that increase by 5% each time. Winners almost always opt for the up-front cash value, however both eye-popping figures are before taxes.
The last time someone won the Powerball top prize was on Sept. 6, when players inMissouriandTexaswon$1.787 billion— the second-highest jackpot in U.S. history.
Matt Strawn, who chairs the Powerball Product Group, said in an interview that nothing special predated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots this year other than the odds of the game. Still, he said it would be magical for a winning ticket to be cashed in during the holidays.
"Imagine if someone is giving the gift of a winning Powerball ticket away, whether it's in a stocking or a thank-you note to your mail carrier," Strawn said.
How does the prize rank among the largest jackpots ever?
Monday's potential bounty now tops the existing 5th-biggest jackpot of a $1.586 billion drawn on Jan. 13, 2016.
Four other jackpots, all from the past three years, have bested the current prize. The biggest U.S. jackpot ever was $2.04 billion back in 2022.
That lotto winner bought the ticket at aLos Angeles-area gas stationand opted for a lump-sum payment of $997.6 million.
In Atlanta on Sunday, players were lining up to get their tickets ahead of Monday's drawing.
"My wife encourages me to buy a ticket because she wants to go on a big trip and she wants to do something good in society," Bob Wehner said outside a car wash. "And she thought, 'Well, we can do both if we win, for crying out loud!'"
Ronan Farrell, a middle schooler, speculated about buying an Xbox and a Lamborghini if his family won.
"With an Xbox controller as well," he added.
What are the odds of winning? Not good
The odds of winning Monday's jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball. Before the switch a decade ago, the odds were 1 in 175 million. Players now have a 1 in 24.9 chance overall of winning some kind of prize.
Tim Chartier, a Davidson College math professor, said he's never bought a lottery ticket despite knowing those odds inside and out.
"Picking a winning lottery ticket is equivalent to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles high — roughly the height of more than 115 Statues of Liberty," or 30 kilometers, Chartier said.
"If you have the funds and you enjoy dreaming about a billionaire life, enjoy the ride. Of course, you could win," Chartier said. "But when the numbers don't fall your way, recognize that the odds were never in your favor — and that the twinkle of possibility is what made the journey worth the almost-certain letdown."
Associated Press videojournalist Emilie Megnien in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
