NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – The Powerball jackpot has jumped to $678 million, just in time to ring in the new year with a bang.
After no tickets matched Monday’s Christmas Day drawing, a winner in Wednesday night’s drawing could receive a life-changing prize.
Local 10 News spoke with South Florida residents who knew exactly what they were going to do if they won and make history.
“Party, party, celebrate and donate,” said one man.
Nurse assistant Matilda Maxino said she’s taking care of her kids first if she wins the money.
“I’m going to give each 2 million, 2 million (and) the rest is for me, my family, my friend and my country,” she said.
In most states, Powerball tickets cost $2 and buyers can choose their own numbers and single Powerball or leave that task to a computer.
Powerball drawings are held three times a week at 10:59 p.m. EDT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday, with the numbers selected at the Florida Lottery in Tallahassee.
Once the numbers are chosen, it usually takes a couple hours to determine if there is a jackpot winner. If there isn’t a winner, state lottery officials release a jackpot estimate for the next drawing. If there is a winner, the jackpot reverts to $20 million and begins the long process of growing until there is another winner.
A lottery ticket purchased from a North Florida Publix, which unlocked a whopping Mega Millions jackpot, has been claimed.
The Florida Lottery also announced Wednesday morning the claimant: Saltines Holdings, LLC of Miami, chose to receive the staggering, one-time, lump-sum payment of $794,248,882, likely chose to take the prize under an LLC to avoid sharing their identity.
The drawing was held on August 8 and rolled over 32 times from April.
Lottery officials said the winning Mega Millions ticket was purchased at a Publix in Neptune Beach.
The game’s odds remain 1 in 292.2 million regardless of how big the jackpot is and the number of people buying tickets. Those odds mean there are 292.2 million possible number combinations.
Will you be playing? Let us know in the comments.