NewsNational News

Actions

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots hit $2 billion after no winners Saturday

Posted at 11:30 AM, Oct 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-21 11:30:18-04

It’s not too late to jump on the lottery train — there’s more than $2 billion up for grabs this week.

After nobody won Saturday’s Powerball top prize, the potential jackpot has swelled to an even more monstrous amount.

The numbers drawn Saturday were 62-16-54-57-69 and the Powerball was 23.

The potential Powerball jackpot has now climbed to $620 million for Wednesday’s drawing. The winner can also opt for a cash prize of more than $354 million, from which the federal government will take 25% right away, and more later.

But if you are itching to play, you could win even more on Tuesday. Mega Millions is now offering a potential prize of $1.6 billion.

That means that Tuesday’s Mega Millions and Wednesday’s Powerball jackpots combined are roughly $2.22 billion.

This week’s billion-dollar haul includes the largest prize in US lottery history. That’s right. Mega Millions “entered historic territory” Saturday after officials confirmed there were no winners for Friday’s drawing.

“It’s hard to overstate how exciting this is — but now it’s really getting fun,” said Gordon Medenica, lead director of the Mega Millions Group and director of Maryland Lottery and Gaming.

The nation’s largest lottery jackpots have now rolled for a few months.

No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since July 24, when a group of 11 workers in California split $543 million.

Powerball has climbed since there was a winner in New York on August 11.

In that time 26 people have won $1 million for matching every number but the Powerball.

Each Powerball or Mega Millions ticket is $2. The games are played in 44 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.