The Powerball jackpot has swelled to a massive $1.73 billion after Monday’s drawing went winnerless again, marking nearly three months of drawings since someone last won.
Monday’s winning numbers were 16, 34, 46, 55, and 67, and the Powerball was 14.
The pot for Wednesday’s drawing is now the second-largest in the game’s history, the lottery shared. It is also the first time the lottery will have back-to-back winners of billion-dollar prizes — once someone eventually wins.
If someone can match all six numbers in Wednesday’s drawing, they will be able to have their money delivered in an annuitized option, paid out over 29 years, or a lump sum payment estimated at $756.6 million before taxes.
But here's the question a lot of people have: If I win, do I have to let everyone know about it?
Ten states allow lottery winners of any prize size to remain anonymous: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming.
In Minnestota, a prize must be over $10,000 for someone to remain anonymous, so this would definitely qualify. In Arizona, a prize must be over $100,000 for someone to remain anonymous. Georgia and Illinois require prizes to be over $250,000 for someone to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, Texas and West Virginia require prizes to be over $1 million for someone to remain anonymous, and Virginia requires a prize to be greater than $10 million.
Monday’s drawing did produce a couple millionaires, as one ticket won a player in Florida $2 million, and four tickets sold in California, Indiana, Oregon, and Virginia won $1 million, Powerball shared.
The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was July 19, when a single ticket in California took home $1.08 billion.
The odds of winning the grand prize on Wednesday night are 1 in 292.2 million, according to the lottery. However, the odds of winning any other prize is better, at 1 in 24.9.
Wednesday’s drawing will take place at 10:59 p.m. EST.