Powerball jackpot grows to record $425 million
Lottery officials say nobody won the Powerball jackpot over the weekend and the top prize will now increase to about $425 million for the next drawing, the largest jackpot ever for the game.
Saturday's drawing was estimated at $325 million before the numbers were picked. That was the fourth-largest jackpot in the game's history.
Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer said the jackpot for Wednesday's drawing could go even higher than the estimated $425 million because sales pick up in the days before record drawings.
The previous top Powerball prize was $365 million, won in 2006 by ConAgra Foods Workers in Lincoln, Neb.
The U.S. record for any lottery jackpot was set in April, when the Mega Millions drawing paid out $656 million on three winning ticket holders from Illinois, Maryland and Kansas.
Unfortunately, the winner will be paying 39.6% to the IRS whether you take the annual payments or lump sum.
I would open a safe haven for animals and abused single parents. The parents would take care of the animals and everyone would benefit. And the children of the moms would have their college tuition taken care of. And I would have on staff a pitbull attorney to go after deadbeat parents. My beautiful wife and I would get some more traveling in and buy that flat on the Mediterranean Sea. And finally, the Marine Corps Toys For Tots program would have more damn toys then they could ever handle. Semper Fi.
 @Hagar How about, in addition to your staff of pitbull attorneys to go after deadbeat parents, you also have a staff of actual pit bulls whose favorite doggie treat is POS puppy mill breeders?Â
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Semper Fi, sir, and thank you for your service.Â
 @MargeGunderson I got to tell you, Marge, that is a serious sore spot for me. I am active, very active, in a rescue organization that has successfully shut down Amish "Dog Farms" in Missouri and Pennsylvania. It is expensive but we are making slow progress.
@Hagar You assume all abused single parents are moms? You obviously don't know my ex...
 @BoredETech  @Hagar The vast majority are. Two women in my life that I support, neither related to me but good people needing help, are women. But I was married once to a woman like that... I understand. And for the last 26 years I have been married to an Angel on Earth.
 @Hagar You are a patriot Hager! Semper Fi
I'm gonna throw $5 on it...that's about it. Good Luck Everyone!!
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I'd spend my money & time on "experiences" not Junk.
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Rome, Italy, France...an African Safari!! Going to Disnelyand and buying the stupid $30 t-shirt for my kids, even though it'll shrink in 1/2 when I wash it. Money to me isn't about "stuff" -Â it's about making the stress of paying all your bills, in full, in the same month (what a thought!!) fade away.... to make the time you do have more meaningful and well spent with the Family & Friends. :)
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Don't get me wrong...I'd have a sweet Volvo SUV and Swimming Pool....lol
Yeah I told my wife to go nuts shopping... the money is in the lotto one ticket I just got .... I'll take a one in a 37.1 million shot at winning for $2 ... don't think I should quit my day job though... buying multiple tickets is such a waste... I pick the same numbers each time.. they never hit...did I understand this right.. 1 in 175 million chance of winning wow what ever happened to 1 in a million luke blew up the death star with that one...
I would buy some awesome stuff for sure and see the world, but my favorite thing to do if I had that much money would be to go around and give random people $100 bills, pick random people at the grocery store in line and pay for their groceries, pick up people's tab at restaurent, find someone at a used car lot just trying to buy a reasonable car and buy it for them etc. Â
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We all love our friends and family, but there is something especially gratifying about making the day of a complete stranger.Â
 @The206 That's exactly what I dream of doing with this much money. Especially catching people in acts of kindness, or just basic courtesy, and handing them an envelope stuffed with cash. Then, of course, quickly taking off before they have a chance to get a good look at me or remember any details.Â
 @The206 LOVE IT!! I kinda have the same outlook. Stuff doesn't make me happy, making other people makes me happy!!
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My Aunt/Uncle volunteer at a small VFW Hall. They raised a few hundred dollars last x-mas - from the members and selling some stuff they had around the Hall. They were only able to help 3 families - but they did it in an awesome way.
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They went to Kmart about a week before xmas and just kinda hung out n the Toy isle. They kept their ears open for some "Pleaaaassssseeee Mom!" 's and would go pay for the Toy (w/o them knowing and just bringing it back to them) ...they would also pay for w/e else mom had in cart and let them pick out toys for siblings, if they weren't there. Like I said I think they were only able to do it like 3 times or so....but I'll be something those kids never forget and I hope it "rubs off on 'em" so to speak!! They said the best part was the look on the kids' faces when they got the toy they were just told by mom they couldn't get for them. Dang, makes me teary just thinking about it now....
 @The206 I agree, I think that would be so much fun to do.
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$42.5 million would go to my church, the rest would go towards family and friends. Of course, traveling is essential :)
I'd buy 425 million lotto tickets if I won.
 @Cooter_Brown then you would be 425m$ out of pocket... they are 2$ a piece these days ;-)
So many million tickets sold each week and no one has won for the last few draws. Shows how small the chances of winning are.
425 million after taxes-that would be one hell of a ride in Vegas.
In within 5 years I would join the ranks of other bankrupt Lotto millionaires, but it would be a hell of a ride ;-)
pay off my debts and my kids student loans, build an indoor horse arena for local 4 H kids and others to use, have a program for kids who can't keep animals at home but would like the experience of raising, showing and caring for animals ,  buy permanent homes for a couple of my hard working friends, who can never get ahead no matter how hard they try so they can save that rent money, set up funds for education for those folks whose families work, but can't qualify for enough to help for schooling, and a program to help those with dental needs  ...and of course take care of my parents and family back home....do I have anything left....?? travel...
Buy each of my kids a house and myself a rental for extra income, then go to Paris and after take all 6 grandkids and parents to Walt Disney in Florida.
@Tina Bach: For that kind of scratch you can just live in Disney World until the grandkids outgrow it then do the other stuff with the interest later.
I would pay off bills, and do the best Christmas ever for my kids. The way things are going, we arent even going to have a tree.Â
$2 to dream for a day or so. Worth it. I bet most of us have wasted $2 recently without any return (tangible or otherwise) so wouldn't miss the money but definitely enjoy the thoughts/dreams.
 I would pay off all my student debts, finish my RN then travel the world to care for others
My hope? Some charitable non-profit buys the winning ticket, and uncle sugar takes not a dime in taxes, but a bunch of hard-pressed and hard-working folks keep their jobs, and some people on the down-and-out actually get some help from it.
$425Million? That is a lot - I mean a LOT - of beer and hookers....er...I mean....charitable donations to the less fortunate.
....said Han to C-3PO, "Never tell me the odds"Â (& I see they did not).
 @Controlled-Insanity Somebody HAS to win. Why not buy a ticket? Maybe you could be that lucky person.
 @kelliellid Already bought $10 worth....Going to invest in some MJ shops when I win.
 @Controlled-Insanity The odds are essentially the same if you buy a ticket or not.
 @al_wa  @Controlled-Insanity That's the difference between an engineer and a mathematician. One would say "there is a chance, so take the shot" the other would say "it's theoretically possible, but so unlikely we don't have to worry about it." Both have their place... just not at the same time :-)
@Controlled-Insanity Well...it may be different today but I know at one time you couldn't sell state lottery tickets in Nevada because the odds were considered unfair by the regulations set by the gaming commission.