A massive lottery jackpot got a little bigger Tuesday as the top Powerball prize climbed to an estimated $1.2 billion ahead of Wednesday night's drawing.
The jackpot ranks as the fourth-largest in U.S. history behind another Powerball prize and two Mega Millions lottery game jackpots. The biggest prize ever was a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot won by three ticket holders in 2016.
The winning numbers for Monday's drawing were 19, 13, 39, 59 and 36 with a Powerball of 13.
The $1.2 billion prize is for winners who choose to take their riches through an annuity, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for cash, which is currently estimated at $596.7 million. Those winnings also would be subject to federal taxes. Many states tax lottery winnings, too.
No one has hit all six numbers since Aug. 3. That's 38 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. The winless streak is due to the abysmal odds of winning: one in 292.2 million.
The longer the game goes without a grand prize winner, the larger the payout will grow.
The Powerball is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It costs $2 to play.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
