Powerball results: $ 731 million Powerball jackpot won in Maryland

DES MOINES, Iowa – There was a jackpot winner in the $ 731 million Powerball, the first to take home the top prize in months.

Thanks to math and bad luck, the lottery players had another chance to win a giant jackpot on Wednesday night as a $ 731 million Powerball prize was on the line.

According to lottery officials, the winning ticket was sold in Maryland and it is the fourth biggest jackpot in Powerball history. The single ticket sold corresponded to the six numbers Wednesday evening.

Wednesday’s winning numbers are: 53, 60,40,68,69, Powerball = 22

The jackpot climbed to $ 731.1 million at the time of the draw with a cash option of $ 546.8 million.

The announcement comes just a day after no one won the even larger Mega Millions award, which now stands at $ 970 million.

It was the first time that the two lottery jackpots exceeded $ 700 million. The biggest prize was a $ 1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three people in 2016.

No one had won any of the jackpots since mid-September, which allowed the prices to grow steadily for months. Such a long period without a winner is rare, but also reflects the incredibly low odds of winning – one in 292.2 million for Powerball and one in 302.5 million for Mega Millions.

Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Carole Gentry said Tuesday night’s Mega Millions draw generated $ 260 million in sales, which covered 36% of all possible number combinations.

The prices shown are for winners who choose an annuity option, paid over 30 years. Most of the winners go for cash prizes, which for Mega Millions would be $ 716.3 million and $ 546 million for Powerball.

These prices would also be subject to federal taxes, and most states would accept a reduction as well.

Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball is also offered in Puerto Rico.

An overview of the 10 biggest US jackpots that were won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

1.1.586 billion dollars, Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three banknotes, from California, Florida, Tennessee)

2.1.537 billion dollars, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018 (one note, South Carolina)
3. 768.4 million dollars, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one post, Wisconsin)
4.558.7 million dollars, Powerball, August 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
5. 687.8 million dollars, Powerball, October 27, 2018 (two tickets, from Iowa and New York)
6. 656 million dollars, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three banknotes, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)

7. 648 million dollars, Mega Millions, December 17, 2013 (two banknotes, from California and Georgia)
8,590.5 million dollars, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, from Florida)
9. $ 587.5 million, Powerball, November 28, 2012 (two tickets, Arizona and Missouri)
10.564.1 million dollars, Powerball, February 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas)

ABC OTV contributed to this report.