The stack of cash in the Powerball jackpot is growing again, hitting $292 million for tonight’s drawing. The cash option is about $192 million.
Powerball attracted players around the country in January when the game’s jackpot hit a world record $1.6 billion. Michigan players bought 49 million Powerball tickets during the jackpot run from Nov. 7, 2105 to Jan. 13, 2016. The bulk of those tickets – 44 million – were purchased in the final three weeks of the run after the jackpot hit $255 million.
Michigan Lottery players won nearly $22 million during the record Powerball jackpot run, including eight $1 million prize winners.
If a Michigan player win’s tonight’s $292 million jackpot, it would be the third-largest Powerball prize won in the state. Michigan’s largest Powerball prize was a $337 million jackpot won on Aug. 15, 2012, by Donald Lawson, of Lapeer. Lawson’s jackpot holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan. The last Michigan player to win a Powerball jackpot was Julie Leach, of Three Rivers. On Sept. 30, 2015, Leach won the game’s $310.5 million jackpot.
Players still have plenty of time to purchase tickets for tonight’s drawing. Lottery retailers throughout the state are selling Powerball tickets for the drawing until 9:45 p.m.
Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to five times may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.
The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. and may be watched live on the Lottery’s network of stations: WBKB-TV 11 (CBS), WDIV-TV 4 (NBC), WNEM-TV 5 (CBS), WXSP-TV (MyNetwork TV), WLAJ-TV 53 (ABC), WLUC-TV 6 (NBC/FOX) and WGTU-TV 29/WGTQ-TV 8 (ABC). Additionally, the drawing may be watched online at: http://www.powerballlive.com/powerball. Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.