BOSTON — The Powerball lottery jackpot is expected to reach $1.4 billion (yes, billion) by the next drawing on Wednesday night.
The odds of you winning are slim, to say the least—1 in 292.2 million. But, if you matched all five numbers plus the Powerball, and chose the lump sum payment in favor of a 30-year payout, you would walk home with $607.6 million after taxes.
If you started with no prior wealth at all, you would immediately unseat musician Bono as the 65th richest celebrity (and indeed, a celebrity you would be) alive today, according to The Richest.
This is not a celebrity's yearly income—the lump sum would earn you more than twice the amount any celebrity made in 2015, according to Forbes (boxer Floyd Mayweather made $300 million last year). This is their net worth, the total wealth they currently have.
Winning the Powerball jackpot would immediately make you individually wealthier than Jay-Z, Simon Cowell, and Mariah Carey. You would be richer than Dolly Parton, Elton John, and Tom Cruise. And, you would have more money than Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen—combined.
If that doesn't convince you of the magnitude of this Wednesday-night drawing, try this: according to GDP numbers from World Bank, the $607.6 million would make you alone richer than eight entire countries.
You can get in on the action until 9:50 p.m. Wednesday night. The numbers will be announced at 10:59 p.m.
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