Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot jumped $100 million on Friday to reach an estimated $1.6 billion, the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.

If a North Carolinian wins Saturday’s jackpot, the winner would choose between a $1.6 billion annuity or $782.4 million in cash.

“We have never seen a jackpot of this size before in the 30-year history of the Powerball game,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Players dream of winning a jackpot like this. We are all hoping that a player in North Carolina sees that dream come true this Saturday night.”

While players continue to try for the jackpot, North Carolinians have been winning lots of other prizes. Wednesday’s Powerball drawing produced a $1 million winner, a $100,000 winner, and 11 $50,000 winners in the state. Monday’s Powerball drawing produced three $150,000 winners and three $50,000 winners.

“The beauty of a record jackpot like this one is not just the life-changing opportunity to win the jackpot, but the millions of dollars that it raises for education here in North Carolina,” Michalko said. “The dollars raised for education from this exciting jackpot will help our state’s education programs this year.”

The current Powerball run has raised more than $26 million for education in the state.

The odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9 and the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million. Players can buy Powerball tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com.

Ticket sales from draw games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.