Powerball jackpot at $400M ahead of Wednesday drawing
John Siehien of Plainview shows off the Powerball ticket he purchased at Lovely Cards & Gifts in Hicksville. The jackpot for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing is $400 million. (Sept. 18, 2013) Credit: Barry Sloan
The Powerball jackpot Wednesday night was estimated at $400 million, with a one-time cash payout of $223.6 million before taxes, lottery officials said.
The odds of matching all six numbers are about 1 in 175 million, according to the game's website.
The record Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million, won in May by an octogenarian in Florida. The second-largest grand prize of $587 million was split by two players -- one from Arizona and one from Missouri -- last November.
Wednesday night's drawing was for the fifth-biggest payout, officials said.
U.S. lotteries have been reaching records more often since Powerball raised its ticket prices from $1 to $2 in January 2012. Tickets are sold in 43 states, including New York, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It's Your Business! This month's roundup including how to protect yourself from digital scams Join NewsdayTV as we recount the top business stories on LI that you need to know about.
It's Your Business! This month's roundup including how to protect yourself from digital scams Join NewsdayTV as we recount the top business stories on LI that you need to know about.
