The record $500 million Powerball jackpot: By the numbers

Felicia Ross flashes a winning smile in Orlando, Fla., while showing off Powerball tickets that probably won&#039;t win.

(Image credit: AP Photo/John Raoux)

last updated 8 January 2015

The Powerball jackpot has reached a record $500 million, causing people in 42 states to flock to their nearest convenience stores to snatch up what could be the winning ticket. Of course, the odds only grow more daunting the larger the pot grows, but that hasn't stopped the dreaming droves across the country who are already indulging in intensely satisfying fantasies of house-buying and job-quitting. And the massive haul is sure to rise before Wednesday night's drawing, as more people throw their hard-earned money into the pot. Here, a numerical guide to the contest: