$738 Million Powerball Tickets Last August Useless After Tonight

HOUSTON, TX — Like many folks last summer looking to get very rich, very quickly, I purchased a Powerball lottery ticket in the Aug. 23 drawing for my chance at $738 million. What was a $20 investment for a potential $443 million cash payout? Someone from out-of-state won the jackpot that night, but I did win $4 for getting the Powerball number of 4. The rest of my ticket wasn't so good.

The winning numbers were: 6 - 7 - 16 - 23 - 26 with a Powerball number 4 and Power Play at 4.

Though it varies by state, tickets bought in Texas must be cashed in within 180 days of that day's drawing - it's written on the back of each ticket. The deadline to can-in tickets for the Aug. 23 drawing is Monday, Feb. 19, 2018.

The big Powerball jackpot started at $40 million on June 14, 2017. The jackpot rolled over 20 times and grew exponentially to the $738 million. Two tickets purchased in Texas hit all five numbers but missed on the Powerball for a $1 million payout each. NOTE: One of those tickets was sold in Spring and the other in Snyder.

In all, there were 717,891 winners in Texas that night. The question is, did everyone cash in their winnings? It might be worth digging around tonight to claim any money from those tickets, because it goes away after Monday.

As for the current Powerball, the jackpot was up to $223 million on Saturday, and no one won. The winning numbers were: 13 - 26 - 39 - 44 - 62 Powerball 2, Power Play 3. Wednesday's estimated jackpot is $246 million.

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)