Wednesday’s winning Powerball numbers to monster $731M jackpot
Mega Millions isn’t the only game in town.
With the multistate lottery jackpot swelling to a staggering $970 million after Tuesday’s drawing produced no major winner, players are turned their attention to Wednesday’s Powerball lottery.
The winning numbers were 40, 53, 60, 68, 69 and Powerball 22.
The Powerball jackpot, which hasn’t been won since Sept. 16, 2020, has ballooned to a behemoth-sized $731.1 million.
While the boffo jackpot is an undisputed life-changer, one legal eagle warns that such a massive cash infusion possesses its own inherent headaches.
“On one hand, it’s a fantastic experience, but on the other hand it may come with necessary changes that can cause anxiety,” attorney Walt Blenner explained to CNBC.
While the $730 million bonanza appears enormous at first blush, it’s an incredibly shrinking jackpot — especially if opting for the cash payment.
That jackpot is based on a 30-year annuity. The cash prize is actually only $546 million. But after the feds take their cut that amount reduces further to $344,015,928, according to USA Mega. If you’re a New Yorker, you can say adios to another $48 million or so in state taxes, leaving $295,858,728.
For those willing to play the long game, the annuity will net you just over $100 million more; although, the final installment won’t arrive until 2050.
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Still, a win is a win and Blenner urges caution in blabbing about the wild windfall.
“Keep it as nuclear a group as possible — tell immediate family only,” noted the attorney. “For those gargantuan wins, everyone is looking for who won.”
The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Friday at 11 p.m. EDT.
