Powerball Jackpot Increased to $500 Million Ahead of Wednesday Drawing

At $425 million, the jackpot for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing was already the largest in the game's history, but Tuesday morning, lottery officials announced that the prize pool had increased.

Wednesday's drawing will now be for a $500 million jackpot with a $327 million cash option, according to statement from Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Erica Palmisano. The news comes after 15 straight Powerball drawings without a winner.

There have been two jackpot winners in our state since Maryland began participating in January 2010: in Dec. 2011 an anonymous Pennsylvania couple bought a $128 million jackpot winner in Elkton and in Sept. 2011, an anonymous couple bought a $108 million winning ticket in Abingdon, according to an email from lottery officials.

The last huge jackpot and previous record-holder—a $365 million prize—was claimed in Nebraska back in 2006.

The next drawing will take place on Wednesday at 11:22 p.m. on WBAL-TV, Channel 11 and will be rebroadcast on MPT.

Powerball is a lottery game played in 42 states including Maryland.

What would you do with $425 million? Tell us in the comments.