One day after a Mega Millions player in New Jersey won a $1 billion jackpot, players in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing had to content themselves with vying for a mere $865 million.
The winning numbers were 37-46-57-60-66, with the red Powerball being 8.
If there is a winning ticket in Wednesday’s drawing, it would be the second consecutive Powerball jackpot to top $800 million. The last winning ticket was sold in January in Michigan, 36 drawings ago, for an $842 million jackpot.
This latest drawing is for the fifth-largest jackpot in Powerball history.
If taken in a single massive payment, as most recent big lottery winners have chosen to do, Wednesday’s $865 million prize would be worth $416 million. The larger, advertised amount is what the other option — a 29-year annuity — would be worth over its lifetime.
Federal taxes would quickly take almost 40% of that amount, with state taxes a possibility on top of that.
The $2 Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The odds of a jackpot-winning ticket are 1 in 292.2 million.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.