Sales are increasing for the Powerball jackpot this weekend, which has boosted the total grand prize to $1.6 billion dollars.
This is the largest grand prize for the lottery in U.S. history.
The drawing will be held tonight on Saturday night. There has not been a grand prize winner in 39 straight drawings. This shows how hard it is to get that one out of 292.2 million chances at the prize.
The billion dollar prize is for the winner that chooses to receive an annuity. This is where the payments are made over the span of 29 years. Most winners choose the cash option to get the payment all at once. If a winner is drawn tonight and they choose that option, they would receive an estimated $782.4 million dollars.
The last record breaking prize was worth $1,586 billion dollars in 2016. Three winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee walked away with the prize.
The game is played in 45 states along with Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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