Powerball Winner Won't Be Only One Getting Rich
Jackpot Is Biggest In Game's History
POSTED: 5:38 am HST October 18, 2005
UPDATED: 5:57 am HST October 18, 2005
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Whoever wins the record Powerball jackpot of $340 million won't be the only one getting rich. Players matching all but the Powerball number in the winning drawing will split bonuses that kicks in for record jackpots. Normally, a player matching five numbers -- but not the Powerball -- wins $200,000. But because there is record jackpot, Powerball officials estimate the Match Five winners will each get about $450,000. Based on previous large jackpots, officials predict about 30 Match Five winners from Wednesday's drawing. If the jackpot is not won Wednesday and continues to grow, the Match 5 winners "could win millions, depending on how long we go," a lottery spokeswoman said.If there aren't any Match 5 winners when the jackpot is hit, the bonus pool would go to players who match four numbers and the Powerball. That prize normally is $10,000. Powerball is played in 27 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. The jackpot has been growing since mid August and 20 drawings have passed without a jackpot being won. It is the biggest jackpot in the game's history and eclipses the previous record of about $315 million.
Previous Stories:
- October 16, 2005: Pot Thickens With No Winner For Powerball
- October 15, 2005: Numbers Drawn, But Is There A Powerball Winner?
- October 13, 2005: No Winner, Powerball Jackpot Skyrockets To $290M
- October 13, 2005: Powerball Jackpot Tops $240 Million
- October 6, 2005: Powerball Jackpot Tops $200 Million
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