With no winner yet of the largest Powerball lottery in world history, the jackpot has gone up to $1.5 billion with a cash value of $930 million, according to Powerball’s website.
The winner will be announced Jan. 13, but the odds are not in your favor to win this drawing. For the grand prize of $1.5 billion, the odds of winning are 1 in 292,201,338.
Check out our graphic of what that money could buy.
In layman's terms, the chances of picking the right numbers are the same as flipping a coin and getting heads 28 times in a row, Jeffrey Miecznikowski, an associate professor of biostatistics at the University at Buffalo in New York, told USA Today.
We asked students and staff what they would do if they won.
Cierra Davis, junior psychology major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “I purchased one for the drawing on Saturday, but I am going to make sure I get one for tomorrow. There is no reason not to with how much you could win.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “If I win I know my mom would want to split the winnings in half. With my half, I would pay off my student loans, quit school and spend my time traveling everywhere.”
Kristine Herr, senior telecommunication major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “I don’t buy lottery tickets because I don’t have the money to waste, and I also have terrible luck.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “I would pay off student loans — not just mine, but I would have to end up paying off my parents' and my brother's loans too. After that, I would probably try to find a factory job.”
Ireisy Tavarez, sophomore vocal performance major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: "At this point, no. But I want to try it. The money would totally be worth it.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “I would plan to travel, build my own recording studio and buy out Madison Square Garden.”
Zach Decker, senior elementary education major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “Yes, just because you can’t win if you don’t play. Granted, I don’t go crazy and buy a lot, but I do take the chance.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “I would donate the money to people who need it, like different charity organizations. For me, it would be better and more meaningful for me to help change people’s lives instead of my own. Don’t get me wrong, I would buy a couple play toys, but I don’t want the money to change who I am.”
Mitch Greene, junior elementary education major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “I have in the past but haven’t got one for Wednesday’s drawing. Every time I have played, I never win anything too big anyway."
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “First, I would freak out because that's a ton of money. Then, I would probably buy nice things for my family and myself, but I would want to put the majority of it in savings. That’s just so much money, I wouldn’t know what all to do with it.”
Grant Thompson, sophomore biology major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “It could be worth it, but I just don’t buy lottery tickets.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “I would honestly buy my own island, but invest the majority of the money. Most people who win would go broke in less than five years, so I’d play smart.”
Carson Keller, junior history major
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “I haven’t bought one yet but I might as well.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “I would buy my own private island where I would just get time to myself.”
Janet Schafer, dining cashier
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Q: Have you purchased a Powerball lottery ticket?
A: “Yes, I have, and I regularly do. Even though I haven’t ever won, it’s just a fun gamble.”
Q: What would you do with the money if you won with the cash value around $900 million?
A: “I would help others. I would help veterans, especially those who come home injured, to make sure they have homes and are healthy. I’d probably also buy each one of my granddaughters their own small home. With the rest of the money I have left, I would help the students who can't afford an education to go to school. I'm happy with where I am now, so I'd focus on trying to help and make others happy.”
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