Powerball lottery jackpot at $460M; winning numbers drawing Wednesday

Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot is $460 million, the seventh largest Powerball grand prize ever and the tenth largest U.S. lottery jackpot.

In addition, Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot has jumped to $418 million. This is the first time in U.S. history that both jackpots have topped $400 million at the same time.

The winning numbers from Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing were – 01 – 42 – 47 – 64 – 70 – and the Mega Ball number was 22. While there was no jackpot winner in Tuesday night’s drawing, Illinois players won more than 67,000 prizes, ranging from $2 to $10,000.

1 IN 292 MILLION

Earlier Wednesday, the Powerball ticket sales were steady at 7-Eleven at Wabash and Wacker in Chicago’s Loop.

Players know the odds are not in their favor (about one in 292 million), but they still had dreams of paying off bills, taking vacations in warm locales and giving to charity.

“I would treat all my family,” said Cynthia Mayes. “Then I would travel the world.”

If you get a winning ticket, put it in a safe place and don’t make any big decisions right away. The cash option is $291 million.

“You do nothing for the next six months. Take this money, digest it. Build your team. Build the infrastructure so you can responsibly manage this money,” said Andrew Stoltmann, an attorney who represents people who hit the jackpot.

QUICK POWERBALL FACTS
Current jackpot at $460 million; cash option of $291 million
Jackpots start at $40 million

Overall odds of winning the jackpot 1:292,201,338
Drawings are at 9:59 p.m. (CT) every Wednesday and Saturday
Choose five different numbers 1 to 69 and one Powerball number 1 to 26
While the jackpot gets the most attention, there are other prizes to be won in Powerball. Prizes range from $4 for matching just the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five numbers (but not the Powerball).

QUICK MEGA MILLIONS FACTS
Current jackpot is $418 million; cash option of $261 million
Jackpots start at $40 million
Overall odds of winning the jackpot 1:305,575,350
Drawings are at 10 p.m. (CT) every Tuesday and Friday

Right now, the Mega Millions and Powerball games have a combined jackpot of $878 million.

Saturday’s Powerball numbers were:
28 – 36 – 41 – 51 – 58 Powerball: 24 Powerplay: 2X

The record Mega Millions jackpot is $656 million – three tickets shared that jackpot on March 30, 2012. Just behind that is the $648 million jackpot split by two winners on December 17, 2013.

With slightly better odds than the Powerball game, it’s rare that months pass without someone winning a Mega Millions jackpot.

There are several factors for the lack of a winner, including fewer players.

The odds of picking the correct numbers on five white balls and one yellow ball in the Mega Millions game are one in 259 million. For Powerball, it’s one in roughly 292 million. Revamps to the country’s two big lottery games in recent years decreased the odds of picking all the numbers needed for the top prize, though officials point out it has increased the number of winners who score smaller prizes that range from $1 million to $5 million, depending on the game.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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