Powerball reaches North American record jackpot of $675M ahead of Saturday drawing

How lucky do you feel? Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is $675 million, a record for North America after nobody won the top prize during Wednesday’s drawing.

The previous North American record was the March 2012 Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million, according to North Carolina lottery officials.

The Powerball jackpot continued to grow for the 18th time after no one matched all six numbers Wednesday. The winning numbers from that night were 2, 11, 47, 62 and 63, and the Powerball number was 17.

Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 292.2 million. It’s so much easier to get hit by lightning, according to the federal government, which put those odds at 1 in 1.19 million.

But if it makes you feel better, in fiscal year 2015, North Carolina players beat odds of 1 in 11.7 million nine times to claim a $1 million Powerball prize.

Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

Jackpot winners can either take an annuity paid out over 29 years or a lump sum payout, minus taxes. The lump sum is worth $413.1 million, the North Carolina lottery said.

Tickets cost $2 each.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 7:57 AM with the headline "Powerball reaches North American record jackpot of $675M ahead of Saturday drawing."