Historic $550 Million Powerball Jackpot Up for Grabs Wednesday

So maybe you didn't get that big-screen TV on Black Friday because you weren't there early enough (or valued your own personal safety to wait until later). It may not matter if you can manage get to local stores to buy a lottery ticket by 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The Powerball estimated jackpot now sits at $550 million, according to the Powerball website, the largest in its history. 

The previous top windfall was $365 million, and was claimed by eight coworkers in Lincoln, Neb., in 2006. 

The Powerball numbers for Saturday were 22-32-37-44-50, and the Powerball was 34. The lottery claimed more than 2 million winners on the Nov. 24 drawing, but no jackpot winners among the 42 states that participate.

The jackpot could end up being higher in the days leading up to the draw, as many will use the opportunity to make the holidays a bit happier in the closing hours.

There are plenty of places to buy your ticket in the neighborhood. The state's website lists 20 Oak Creek locations. (You can search by community name or zip code.) Among them:

• Piggly Wiggly, 2201 E. Rawson Ave.
• Woodman's, 8131 S. Howell Ave.
• Gary's Beer & Liquor, 9555 S. Howell Ave.
• Pilot Travel Center, 2031 W. Ryan Road
• Many other area gas stations
• All Pick 'n Saves

While millions of Americans can have fun dreaming about how they'd spend the jackpot, the odds of winning are 1 in 175,000,000, according to lottery officials.

For a reality check, a ticket holder is 25 times less likely to win the jackpot than they are to win an Academy Award. However, as the adage goes, "you can't win if you don't play."

Click here to learn more about prizes and odds.