Powerball jackpot soars to $422 million after months without winner

DES MOINES — The Powerball jackpot has soared to $422 million thanks to nearly three months without a winner of the big prize.

If anyone matches the five balls and red Powerball in Wednesday night's drawing, it will be the game's first jackpot winner since May 7.

A jackpot winner could opt for a $422 million annuity paid out over 29 years or a $291 million lump sum. The prize would rank as the nation's 11th largest.

The chance of winning Powerball is incredibly small, at 292.2 million to one. But players have much better odds, of about one in 25, of winning smaller prizes ranging from $1 million to $4.

The big Powerball prize comes less than three weeks after a player in Indiana won a $536 million Mega Millions jackpot.