The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night's drawing has soared to an estimated $1.3 billion, the fifth-biggest in the lottery's history, after no one claimed the top prize earlier this week.

The jackpot is also the ninth-largest among all US lottery jackpots. The $1.3 billion figure represents the winnings of those who choose to receive the payment in 30 annual installments, distributed over 29 years, that grow in size over time. Any winner can instead choose a lump-sum cash payment, estimated at $589 million.

There have been 40 drawings since the jackpot was last won in May and Wednesday will mark the 41st. That's almost the longest run in Powerball's three-decade history: The previous record was 42 consecutive drawings without a winner, set last year.

As the jackpot climbs in size, so

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