Record Powerball jackpot now estimated at $1.5B

SAN DIEGO – It’s no surprise that the estimated Powerball jackpot has risen again. It’s now estimated at $1.5 billion.

Even the cash option is valued at nearly $1 billion [$930 million to be exact].

Another Powerball drawing failed to produce a winner on Saturday after reaching a staggering $900 million jackpot earlier in the day — by far the largest ever.

App helps manage office Powerball pool

On Sunday, lottery officials estimate the jackpot is already at $1.3 billion ahead of the next drawing on Wednesday night.

That number climbed again early Monday and Tuesday… who knows, it could climb AGAIN before the next drawing.

The biggest winning jackpot was in 2012 with a MegaMillions game that was worth $656 million.

The current jackpot has been growing since November 7. It first broke into the top 10 largest jackpots ranking last weekend, when it hit $400 million. Since then ticket sales have only taken off.

Powerball has made dozens of new millionaires since November

It hit $700 million on Thursday after nobody won on Wednesday night — the 18th drawing without a winner.

The buying frenzy continued all day Saturday. A few hours before the drawing, the Texas Lottery reported that $5,838,152 in Powerball tickets were sold in a one-hour period.

The odds of winning are 1 in 292 million.

Powerball is sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.