Powerball adds $100M, creating jackpot of $1.5B for next drawing
People line up to buy Powerball tickets at Nesconset Cards & Gifts in Nesconset on Jan. 9, 2016. Credit: Ed Betz
Add another $100 million to Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot.
The grand prize got another bump Tuesday, this time to $1.5 billion, the largest lottery jackpot in world history.
The lump sum payout is $930 million, before taxes and withholding.
Lottery officials announced the bump — a significant jackpot increase based on better-than-anticipated ticket sales — about 11 a.m.
And there’s a good chance it’ll get another bump before the drawing at about 11 p.m. Wednesday.
The jackpot is more than double the previous record for the largest jackpot for a U.S.-based game, which was a $656 Mega Millions grand prize in 2012.
The jackpot has continued to swell since Nov. 7, when it started out at $40 million. It surpassed $656 million — the previous mark for the largest grand prize for a U.S. game — this past Thursday, when it reached $675 million.
It’s been expanding ever since, including a $100 million bump on Monday.
$3B power line fight ... What's in store with weather ... 2 years after devastating storm ... Driver's license frustration ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
$3B power line fight ... What's in store with weather ... 2 years after devastating storm ... Driver's license frustration ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
