As the Powerball jackpot soars to $856 million, now might be the moment to consider buying a ticket. This jackpot is the year’s largest and ranks as the eighth-largest in Powerball’s history. For those opting for a lump sum payout, the total equals $370.7 million before taxes.

This Saturday’s drawing, standing as the 16th-largest in U.S. lottery history when including Mega Millions, has captured attention. “Entering the top 10 largest Powerball jackpots is when we historically see a lot of players join in the game,” commented Stephen Durrell, chair of the Powerball Product Group and Kansas Lottery executive director.

While the jackpot garners buzz, previous records still loom large. The grandest Powerball win reached $2.04 billion with a California ticket in November 2022. Despite its size, the lump sum for that win was $997.6 million, as no jackpot has topped $1 billion for immediate cash payment.

A significant aspect of this jackpot is its eligibility, now extending beyond the usual 45 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the first time, participants from the United Kingdom are joining in, enhancing competition and potentially hastening jackpot growth if it rolls over.

Tickets in the U.K. became available on July 21. Since the last jackpot win on May 2, there have been 41 drawings without a winner. However, smaller triumphs persist, such as a $1 million winner in Ohio who matched all five white balls in a recent drawing.

The upcoming drawing occurs Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Those vying for the grand prize face steep odds of 1 in 292.2 million.