Powerball Jackpot Now Largest U.S. Jackpot Ever

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Saturday, January 9, Powerball jackpot is an estimated annuitized $675 million with a cash value of $413.1 million, making it the largest jackpot of any lottery game in American history.

“There is definitely a lot of excitement around this record jackpot and we would love to see a West Virginian win it,” Acting Lottery Director John Myers said. “We want to encourage folks to play responsibly.”

Wednesday’s numbers were 2, 11, 47, 62 and 63. The Powerball was 17. While no one matched all six numbers, a total of 45,427 West Virginia tickets did win a prize from the Wednesday drawing so players are strongly encouraged to check their tickets before discarding them. The odds of hitting the jackpot with all six numbers are one in 292,201,338, however the odds of hitting any prize in the Powerball game is only one in 24.9.

The previous U.S. Lottery jackpot record was a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot that was won in March of 2012. The largest Powerball jackpot until now was a $590.5 million jackpot that was won in May of 2013.

West Virginia has had eight Powerball jackpot winners in its history, with the most recent being Randy Smith of Martinsburg who took the $44 million cash option on an annuitized jackpot of $79 million in August of 2010.

Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Tickets cost $2 and can be purchased at West Virginia Lottery retailers across the state up until (9:59 p.m. on drawing dates. For an additional $1 per play, players can add the Powerplay option which increases non-jackpot prizes.