CHICAGO – The Powerball jackpot has ballooned to a staggering $1.5 billion for Saturday night’s drawing, and quickly approaching the world record $1.586 billion jackpot.
If a player wins Saturday night’s massive grand prize, it would be the second largest Powerball jackpot and the third largest lottery jackpot won in U.S. history.
No winner matched all six numbers to win the jackpot last night. However, several Illinois Lottery players woke up this morning a whole lot richer after last night’s drawing!
Three players matched four numbers and the Powerball with Power Play to win $100,000 each, and nine local players matched four numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000 each. The majority of the winning tickets were purchased at retailers across the greater Chicagoland area.
In addition, two lucky Illinois Lottery players have won a prize of a million dollars or more in this current jackpot roll, making it a total of six million dollar Powerball winners so far this year.
This is also a win for the retailers for selling the winning tickets, as the retailers will receive a selling bonus of 1% of the prize amount.
More than 250,000 other prizes, ranging from $100,000 to $4, were won in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing.
Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize. The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they’re ready to claim their prize.
Powerball tickets are $2 each, and players have the option to add the Powerplay for an additional $1 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 9:59 p.m. (CT).
About the Illinois Lottery
Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $24 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and to special causes. For more information, visit illinoisLottery.com.