IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Powerball jackpot up to a dizzying, world record $1.9B as drawing delayed again

The last time someone won a jackpot was in August. The drawing was delayed after the multistate lottery association said one lottery needed extra time.
Get more newsLiveon

Americans are once again playing a waiting game in early November after Monday night's Powerball drawing with a historic $1.9 billion jackpot was delayed.

Many had waited on tenterhooks for Monday’s result, only to learn that the drawing would be delayed, with the Multi-State Lottery Association saying it had one participating lottery that needed additional time to process its sales.  

Powerball requires all 48 participating lotteries to submit their sales and play data before the winning numbers can be selected.

"This has happened a few rare times before — just not when the jackpot was at a newsworthy amount," it said.

The association said the drawing would likely remain delayed until at least Tuesday morning. It reminded players to "hold onto their tickets" in the meantime.

The last winning Powerball ticket was drawn Aug. 3 by a lucky Pennsylvanian.

A winner can choose to take the prize in 30 payments over 29 years or as a single lump-sum payment. Most winners take the one-time cash payment, which is estimated to be $929.1 million.

Only two previous winning lotteries have surpassed $1.5 billion.

A lone South Carolina player had the winning ticket of a $1.53 billion Mega Millions game in 2018. Three winning tickets were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee in a $1.58 billion Powerball in 2016.

The chances of picking all six numbers correctly are 1 in 292.2 million.

But Dr. Adam Cheriff still prescribed himself some tickets, which he bought at a smoke shop near New York City's Grand Central Terminal at lunchtime Monday.

"I don't plan on winning," Cheriff, 50, said with a smile. "I guess it's just that classic case of fear of missing out."

Elevator repairman Clive Ryan, 60, came to the U.S. 32 years ago from Jamaica — or as he put it, "32 winters ago."

A snowbird's paradise back on the island would be at the top of Ryan's shopping list if he won, knowing his $10 Powerball investment Monday probably won't get him back to Jamaica this winter.

"I don't drink and I don't smoke, so this is my only vice," he said. "But, hey, maybe this could be my lucky day. You never know."