Tonight’s jackpot for the Powerball lotto game played in Washington state and elsewhere in the U.S. will be at least $485 million, the fifth-largest prize in U.S. history.
In addition to both Washingtons — the state and D.C. — Powerball is played in 43 other states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The $485 million jackpot would be paid over 30 years as an annuity, or the winner can take a lump-sum payoff of $327.7 million before taxes. Multiple holders of winning tickets matching five numbers and a sixth Powerball number divide the jackpot.
If there’s no winning ticket out of tonight’s 7:59 p.m. PDT drawing, the jackpot rolls over and will exceed a half-billion dollars for Saturday night’s game.
For more information, including the astronomical odds of winning it all: www.powerball.com and www.walottery.com/Games/Powerball/Default.aspx