It could be the seventh-largest lottery drawing of all time.
According to the Associated Press, today’s $360 million Powerball jackpot would make the top 10 list of the world’s largest lottery payouts.
Action, though was running slow Tuesday morning at the North Herritage Piggly Wiggly.
“It’s been kind of slow this morning, because people are still sleeping. Probably around 11:30, 12 o’ clock, it’ll get really big,” store associate Rebecca Sowers said. “I’ve mostly been busy with the Pick 3, because it went 777 (Monday), so everybody wins.”
Triple-7 payouts are typically high in aggregate because it’s a popular number.
McKinley Fisher purchased his lottery tickets Tuesday, but would have anyway.
“Well, I purchase them just about every day — I go every day,” Fisher said.
He said the jackpots are for a large amount of money no matter the drawing, so the big number is just a bonus.
“I play every day, and the jackpot’s big anyhow,” Fisher said.
The Powerball prize rose $10 million from Monday, and is only $5 million from the second-largest jackpot in the history of the game.
The drawing marks the highest jackpot level since November 2012.
According to a statement from the N.C. Education Lottery, “three North Carolina players have won the jackpot. Jackie Alston of Halifax won $74.5 million in November 2006, Jeff Wilson of Kings Mountain won $88.1 million in June 2009 and Frank Griffin of Asheville won $141.4 million in February 2010.”
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.
Top Lottery Payouts
1. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012
2. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012
3. $390 million, Mega Millions, March 6, 2007
4. $380 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 4, 2011
5. $365 million, Powerball, Feb. 18, 2006
6. $363 million, The Big Game, May 9, 2000
7. Estimated $360 million, Powerball, (drawing scheduled for Wednesday, May 15)
8. $340 million, Powerball, Oct. 19, 2005
9. $338.3 million, Powerball, March 23, 2013
10. $337 million, Powerball, Aug. 15, 2012