One lucky PowerBall winner numbers can quit their day job. The PowerBall winning numbers for April 21, 2010 were 11-34-41-49-55 PB:20 PP:2. According to the Missouri Lottery, "One lucky ticket in Missouri matched all six numbers Wednesday, winning a Powerball jackpot of $258.5 million - the largest jackpot win in Missouri Lottery history."

Rhode Islanders all over the tiny state were buying a record number of lottery tickets on 4/21/2010 with hopes of winning the mega-million PowerBall jackpot, one of the largest in PowerBall history. It wasn't in the cards though as a Missourian won the estimated lottery jackpot of $258.5 million dollars last night at 10:59pm EST. Too bad for Rhode Island who has one of the highest unemployment rates in the U.S. This surely would have boosted not only the local economy, but also morale.

Largest PowerBall Jackpot

According to Wikipedia, "The largest Powerball jackpot of $365 million occurred on February 18, 2006 and was won by a single ticket in Nebraska. It was shared by eight persons who worked for a Conagra meatpacking plant. They elected to receive their winnings in cash, sharing $177,270,519.67 (before taxes). This is the largest prize awarded for a single ticket in an American lottery."

Taxes Need to be Paid on R.I. Lottery Winnings

Interestingly, if you were to buy the winning PowerBall ticket in Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and the District of Columbia, the PowerBall winnings would be exempt from local income taxes. Not so in Rhode Island, where the tax on lottery winnings continues to be imposed.

Where Can You Watch the PowerBall Drawing in Rhode Island?

For Rhode Islanders, the Powerball numbers are drawn live each Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:59pm EST on WPRI, CBS Channel 12. Or, the live PowerBall drawing can be viewed online at PowerBall Live, also at 10:59pm EST.

Rhode Island started playing the PowerBall game in 1988. The Mega Millions game was added on January 31, 2010.

The next PowerBall drawing will be on Saturday, April 24th, 2010, and will start all over again with a winning jackpot of $20,000,000. Donna Diegel