Powerball

Illinois Powerball players should check their tickets because they may have won big money.

As of this writing, tonight's Mega Millions lottery jackpot stands at $660 million, which makes the 10pm drawing now the 3rd biggest jackpot ever. Only two billion-dollar jackpots have ever been higher; $1.537 billion won in South Carolina on October 23rd, 2018, and $1.050 billion won in Michigan on January 22nd, 2021.

After reading about Clark Gas, a Loves Park gas station selling a winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $400,000 a couple days back, I thought it might be fun to see who's won the big money and how much they walked away with (pre-tax).

As I look at an email I just got from the Illinois Lottery, I see that tonight's Powerball drawing has about $730 million reasons for you to consider playing. As the Illinois Lottery's Jessica Perez explains, "This is the fourth largest Powerball prize in game history and the sixth highest jackpot in U.S. lottery history."

A 24-year-old Powerball winner from Wisconsin didn't forget where he came from. And, on Mother's Day, he decided to go out and try to share the wealth a little bit.

For someone in Wisconsin, it's a dream come true. One ticket, one winner. However, after the initial celebration--it's time to settle up the tax bill that comes with winning big money.

It's 2015 all over again when it comes to big payouts from the Illinois Lottery, and once again it's due to our state's ongoing money troubles and lack of a budget.

If you're anything like me, and I know I am--you'd love to win the lottery. However, the problem with my desire to be a lottery winner is the fact that I never buy a ticket. Okay, maybe never is not quite right. I bought a Powerball ticket once, when the jackpot went over a billion dollars. Since you're reading this now, you've probably surmised that I didn't win. I guess I only play when we get i

I know, that sounds a little strange, perhaps full of sour grapes, but after learning about what's happened to some previous winners of big lottery jackpots, I'm working on convincing myself that I should be relieved that I didn't match a single number during Wednesday's drawing...

If you haven't been paying attention, the Powerball Lottery jackpot is now hovering around $500 million for tonight's drawing. Could you use half a billion dollars? Now, keep in mind that if you should be the sole winner, you won't get all $500 million...