Don't forget to check your tickets! The fever of the billion-dollar Powerball drawing on Monday evening is mounting across the nation. The massive jackpot of an estimated $1.04 billion is the second-largest of the current year and ranks fourth in the entire history of the Powerball lottery.
Succeeding in picking all the winning numbers in Monday's draw, the fortunate ticket holder would have the luxury of choosing a lump sum payout of $478.2 million prior to any applicable taxes.
The billion-dollar marker was breached after no one managed to match all six numbers drawn on the preceding Saturday. The numbers were represented by white balls 19, 30, 37, 44, and 46, in addition to the red Powerball 22.
While the grand prize dodged capture on Saturday, there were over 2.5 million tickets that won smaller prizes. Among these winning tickets, two won $2 million each, while five lucky lottery players pocketed a cool $1 million each, according to the lottery officials.
The odds of winning any Powerball prize stands at 1 in 24.9 per the lottery guidelines. However, the likelihood of landing the top prize dwindles markedly to a slim 1 in 292.2 million chance.
The billion-dollar drawing will take place at 10:59 ET on Monday night. Eager participants can view the drawing on Powerball’s official YouTube channel for the dramatic announcement. It's time to hold tight and keep checking that ticket – who knows, you just might become America's newest billionaire!
