Powerball drawn for $768 million, third largest jackpot

[March 28, 2019]    By Rich McKay

(Reuters) - A winning ticket was sold in Wisconsin for a $768 million Powerball lottery jackpot, the third largest in history, lottery officials said after the draw on Wednesday night.

A highway billboard promoting the current Powerball jackpot lottery reaches out to commuters in Los Angeles , California, U.S., March 26, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The winning numbers are 16, 20, 37, 44, 62 and Powerball 12.

The lucky ticket holder or holders can collect the winnings in annual annuities over 29 years or as a lump sum estimated at $477 million before taxes, officials said.

The jackpot surpassed the $600 million mark for the fourth time in history last week for the price of a $2 ticket, officials said. [nL1N218119]

This week's draw nudged into third place when it topped the $758 million Powerball total in August 2017.

The identity of the ticket holder was not immediately announced.

The next Powerball draw is scheduled for Saturday, March 30, with an estimated jackpot of at least $40 million.

(Reporting by Rich McKay; editing by Darren Schuettler)

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