With the Jackpot now at 500 million, Sherrie Haines sells a Powerball ticket to Robert Sweeney at the BP gas station, January 6, 2015 in Dunkirk, Maryland. File Photo AFP-Lehtikuva.
Many people went to buy lottery on Friday as Saturday's Powerball jackpot will be a record 800 million U.S. dollars, the largest of any draw game in U.S. history.
Several dozens lined up in front of the desks of some lottery vendors on that day.
According to California Lottery officials, the winner of the 800 million-dollar jackpot could take home a cash payment of 496 million U.S. dollars.
The retailer selling a single winning ticket would receive a bonus of 1 million dollars.
If there is no big winner after the numbers are picked Saturday night, the Powerball jackpot is likely to grow to 1 billion U.S. dollars.
The previous largest Powerball jackpot was 590.5 million U.S. dollars, which was claimed by a single winner in Florida in May 2013.
The odds of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number are 1 in about 293 million, according to the Powerball website. The overall chance of winning a prize is 1 in 24.87.
