The November 5th Powerball drawing didn’t produce any jackpot winners. Rolling over to a whopping $1.9 billion, it’s now at an all-time record high.
When a Powerball drawing doesn’t produce a jackpot winner, the jackpot “rolls over” and increases in value for the next drawing. Over the years, there have been several weeks without winners, allowing those jackpots to swell to unimaginable sizes. But if you’ve been paying attention in recent weeks, the Powerball jackpot just hit an all-time record high. Since no winning ticket was sold in Saturday’s November 5th drawing, the current jackpot is now $1.9 billion, making it the highest Powerball payout in history.
The Powerball jackpot had already grown to headline-worthy amounts earlier this week. When no one won Wednesday’s drawing, the prize rose to $1.6 billion. At the time, that superseded the previous Powerball jackpot record of $1.586 billion. According to Guinness World Records, the previous record for the “Greatest jackpot in national history” happened back in January of 2016 when three winners stepped forward to claim that monumental and life-changing payout.
Saturday’s November 5th drawing was the 40th consecutive drawing that did not produce a jackpot winner. The Powerball Product Group Chair, Drew Svitko, said in a public statement, “we are witnessing history.” He also pointed out that while no one has claimed the Powerball jackpot, these drawings have produced smaller prize winners, including the nearly 100 or so who were lucky enough to win $1 million or more.
In Saturday’s drawing, the Powerball number lineup was 28, 45, 53, 56, and 69, with the Powerball of 20. Since no one won, the now $1.9 billion jackpot is up for grabs in Monday, November 7th’s drawing. No winners this weekend also ties the Powerball game record of consecutive drawings without a winning jackpot ticket.
For most Americans, the concept of a billion dollars is hard to comprehend. To help you visualize, imagine that $10,000 in $100 bills is a one-inch-thick bundle of cash. Now imagine $1 million dollars, which in stacks of $100 bills would weigh 10 kilos and could realistically fit into a decent-sized duffle bag. When there is one hundred million dollars, or $100,000,000.00, now we’re talking a crate or pallet full of paper cash. Now, one billion dollars, in $100 bills, weighs 10,000 kilos, and you would have to visualize a whole room full of pallets to witness that much cash in one place.
When the jackpots swell to these incredible amounts, more and more Powerball players step up to play. Even those who don’t routinely play will try their luck with a ticket. And there are increasingly more Powerball pools, where groups of co-workers, friends, and family buy Powerball tickets in bulk with plans to split the winnings. No matter how you play, you have a one in 292.2 million. And the odds get even better for winning the smaller Powerball prize amounts. With ranges of $100 to over $1 million, there is plenty of cash to be had, even if the jackpot itself goes unclaimed.
Should you be the Powerball jackpot winner of Monday’s $1.9 billion, it’s estimated that after taxes, you would take home the lump-sum option of $782.4 million. So, get out there and get your tickets. You could be a part of history and turn up a winner!
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are conveniently sold in 45 states, additionally in D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The next drawing for this record-breaking jackpot will occur on Monday night, November 7th, at 10:59 PM EST.