Powerball Jackpot, Eighth-Largest Prize in U.S. History, Hits Estimated $478M

Before the day is done, some lucky Powerball player could be $478 million richer.

The drawing, set for 11 p.m. ET Saturday, is not just the fifth-largest jackpot in the game’s history — it’s the eighth-largest lottery prize ever in U.S. history.

The winner — or winners — would have the option of taking the $478 million prize spread out over 30 years or opt for a lump-sum payment of $330.6 million before federal taxes.

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

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Most winners, like a Florida couple that came forward in February to claim their portion of the largest-ever $1.58 billion Powerball prize, go for the latter option.

CNBC reported earlier this week that the jackpot has rolled over 23 times since it was reset to its starting sum of $40 million for a drawing on May 11.

Powerball lottery tickets, which sell for $2 apiece, can be purchased everywhere the game is played. That's 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The odds of buying the winning ticket are 1 in 292 million, according to Powerball.