The Fascinating Math Behind Why You Won't Win The Powerball

(upbeat music)

[Narrator] So, you're thinking of buying

a Powerball ticket.

Oh, you've already bought a few.

Well, we've got some bad news.

You aren't going to win.

Almost certainly.

Your chances are 1 in 292 million.

You have a better chance of being hit by lightning,

which is nearly one in a million.

That means you're almost 250 times more likely to get a bolt

than a winning ticket.

Here's why.

Those odds come from all the different combinations

you can win by picking five white balls

in any order out of a drum of 69.

Then you multiply that by 26,

the number of possible Powerballs.

Your odds of winning the $1.5 billion jackpot,

that's billion with a B,

are exactly the same as they were in November

when the pot was a mere $40 million.

But the higher the jackpot, the more people will play.

And more likely the pot will be split.

Take out taxes, and the grand prize may be closer to

half a billion dollars.

So, kiss those dreams of becoming an NBA team owner goodbye.

Or,

save your $2

and buy a donut.

The returns are certain deliciousness.

Mmm,

donuts.