Winning numbers drawn for $700M Powerball

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The numbers were drawn Wednesday night for the second largest lottery prize in U.S. history.

Despite incredibly long odds, people throughout the country held their breath as five white balls and one red ball were drawn from drums about 11 p.m.

The winning numbers are 6, 7, 16, 23 and 26, and the Powerball number is 4.

Before Wednesday night's drawing the jackpot was estimated at $700 million.

The jackpot is second only to a $1.6 billion prize won in January 2016.

The $700 million prize reflects the annuity option, paid over 29 years. A winner who wants cash would receive $443.3 million, minus federal and state taxes that generally eat up more than 30 percent of winnings.

Odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.

But as Powerball ticker buyer Bruce Walters said, "You don't know until you try."

Ahead of the drawing, Walters told News4Jax there's two things he would do immediately if he wins.

"I would pay for my daughter's college education and I would get out of debt," he said.

While some people bought just one, others opted to buy multiple tickets in hopes of increasing their chances.

"I bought 10 of them," said Abdullah Salem. "I figure my odds are horrible just buying one."

Although the chances of winning the Powerball are slim, Salem already had some big plans in mind.

"I dream about this all the time," he said. "I’d take half of my winnings and buy gold and put it up and not let anybody touch it until my second generation of kids get older, because it’d probably be worth a lot more. And then the other half, I’d probably have a lot of fun with, take care of a lot of people, do some good things with it. I’d definitely have a lot of fun though.”

Powerball is played in 44 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.


About the Author:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.