Powerball Jackpot Hits $139 Million

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Friday, July 27, 2012

The Powerball Jackpot has hit a high at $139 million, with the next drawing scheduled for Saturday night.

At such a high total, the jackpot's increase is generating excitement across the country, as the Powerball jackpot has grown since June 27 and rolled eight times.

Powerball drawings occur every Wednesday and Saturday until a jackpot winner announces themselves. So far, this week has had no winner, while the winning numbers Wednesday were 3, 14, 35, 38, 46 Powerball: 16. On Wednesday, the pot rested at $120.9 million.

Winners have the option of receiving two payments from Powerball; the jackpot prize can be paid over the course of 29 years in 30 graduated payments, or the cash option, which is approximately $93 million.

Tickets to win the Powerball cost $2. Players can maximize their chance to win with the Power Play option.

Although the jackpot remains unclaimed, there were four tickets that won the $1 Million Match 5 prize on Wednesday. Two winners were from Florida, while one was from Illinois and the other from Louisiana.

There were no tickets that added the Power Play to win $2 million, however, over five thousand ticket holders won $7.8 million in cash prizes this week.

According to estimates by the Multi-State Lottery Association, the chances of winning this week's jackpot are one in 175,223,510.

Many lotto ticket holders from all over the U.S. are speculating their odds and fantasizing about winning the fortune.

On Twitter, Ziggy posted, "Powerball 139 million dollars cos even without a ticket I can dream."

"If this powerball ticket comes in, I promise to do something nice for everyone who has tweeted or @'d me unsolicited in the last 30 days," promised Twitter user @eggswithbacon.

Andrew posted, "I'm playing the powerball tomorrow cause it's been my lucky week."

Moreover, on Facebook, the Powerball has received a lot of buzz on Friday.

"If anybody I know hits [the Powerball] can you please buy me a new bed, oh and some king crab legs," joked LaShawn.

Dan posted, "Once again has brought out my written retirement plan on paper where I'll be spending every cent of the $30 million that I'll win in tonight's Powerball Jackpot!"

"If I win the powerball jackpot tonight I'm going to spend most of the money on wine, women and song" wrote Wayne. "The rest I'll just waste."