Since then, the most populous state has accounted for 11 percent of the game’s sales, fueling such fast-growing mega-jackpots like the latest one that has the potential to be a record-breaker. Odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 175 million.Ĭalifornia has sold $83 million worth of Powerball tickets since April, when it joined 42 other states that offer the game.
The prize was split three ways with winners in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. The largest jackpot ever was a $656-million Mega Millions prize won in March 2012.