Sawt Falasteen - Powerball jackpot grows to record $2.3 bn in US

NYSE - LSE
JRI -1.93% 11.42 $
NGG 0.81% 85.92 $
BCC -5.74% 73.75 $
BCE 4.18% 22.03 $
RIO -1.68% 83.16 $
GSK -1.47% 50.41 $
BP -2.04% 44.7 $
CMSC -1.19% 20.12 $
BTI 0.17% 63.08 $
RBGPF 7.49% 76.2 $
CMSD -0.5% 20.17 $
RELX 0.89% 41.45 $
VOD -2.07% 15.95 $
RYCEF -2.36% 16.55 $
AZN -1.16% 186.85 $
Powerball jackpot grows to record $2.3 bn in US
Powerball jackpot grows to record $2.3 bn in US / Photo: Patrick T. FALLON - AFP/File

Powerball jackpot grows to record $2.3 bn in US

The US Powerball jackpot grew to a mind-boggling $2.3 billion Tuesday -– the largest prize in world history -– leaving countless Americans clinging to hope of winning big.

Text size:

There were no winners in Monday's drawing, Powerball USA announced on Twitter Tuesday morning, soon after a delayed drawing took place.

The drawing was postponed after a participating lottery needed more time to complete security protocols due to high demand for tickets.

Powerball tickets are sold in nearly all states -- 45 of 50 -- as well as Washington DC, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The last time someone claimed the Powerball jackpot was August 3, when a lucky ticket holder in Pennsylvania raked in an estimated $206.9 million.

Since then, 40 consecutive draws have produced no winner, and the Powerball jackpot has grown and grown.

The latest winnerless drawing for a prize of $1.9 billion actually came out to a final figure of $2.04 billion following massive ticket demand.

Tickets cost $2 and a winner can choose either a lump sum payment, calculated for the next drawing at $1.124 billion, or opt to be paid in installments over 29 years.

Most winners choose the lump sum payout.

The next drawing will occur Wednesday evening.

X.AbuJaber--SF-PST