Powerball Jackpot Climbs Over Half-Billion Dollar Mark

August 18, 2017

This Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has hit over a half a billion dollars — an estimated $535 million to be exact. It’s the fifth largest jackpot in the history of the game.

“As the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, it helps the Lottery achieve our mission of maximizing contributions to education,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Jim Poppell. “With every ticket purchased, players have the opportunity to win a prize of life-changing magnitude while benefitting Florida’s students and schools.”

While there was no jackpot winner in Wednesday night’s drawing, Florida Powerball players still won big, with more than 207,000 winning tickets totaling more than $2.6 million in prizes, including one $1 million winner in Clermont. During this jackpot series, more than 1.4 million Florida players have won more than $13.2 million in prizes.

Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize. To receive the cash option of an estimated $340.1 million, jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the drawing.

Friday, 11 a.m.: Story updated to reflect jackpot increase from $510 million to $535 million.

Pictured: The State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 in Davisville, which sold an $80 million winning Powerball ticket in 2015 to an Alabama woman. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Powerball Jackpot Climbs Over Half-Billion Dollar Mark”

  1. Cantonment on August 19th, 2017 7:41 am

    My brother and I both received Bright Futures Scholarships. Money also goes to schools, in ALL counties of Florida. There are a lot of students that get 75% paid scholarship and 100% paid scholarships from the bright futures fund, and a lot of schools in Florida get funding. Plus the retailers get commission from selling and cashing in prizes, and from selling winning ticket. There are a lot of retailers in Florida. Oh and of course the employees need to get paid for the work they do, there are a lot of lottery employees, the buildings, vans, equipment, tickets, paper, the whole process of getting lottery tickets out there to sell cost money, oh yeah and let’s not forget about all the ones who have won money from the little free ticket to top prize and jackpot, they do get paid. You can also find it on the Florida Lottery website http://www.flalottery.com/welcome. That’s if you really want to know where the money goes. Oh and you have to ask the school districts what they do with the money given to them by the Florida lottery.

  2. charles on August 18th, 2017 10:39 pm

    Hey lone chief, lottery pays for Bright Futures college scholarships for students who can achieve the requirements. I managed to get a college education thanks to the Bright Futures funding and it kept me from leaving the state for job opportunities later on.

  3. lone chief on August 18th, 2017 6:52 pm

    I still want to know where the money really goes…sure ain’t education as originally proposed. Just saying…Good Luck ya’ll.