The Powerball jackpot keeps climbing the ranks as it now represents the fourth-largest prize in Powerball history at $1.3 billion.

A winner on Saturday could claim the jackpot as a $1.3 billion annuity or $608.9 million in cash. If won, it would be the eighth-largest prize in U.S. lottery history.

“When players see a jackpot of that magnitude, they start dreaming about what that life-changing win would mean for them,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “We will all be watching the drawing closely and rooting for a jackpot win in North Carolina. Good luck.”

As North Carolinians continue to go for the jackpot, lots of other big wins have occurred recently in the state. Two lucky tickets in North Carolina matched four white balls and the red Powerball in Wednesday’s drawing to win $50,000. The wins occurred:

• At the Food Lion on U.S. 601 in Concord
• At the Circle K on Harris Square Dr in Harrisburg

Players can buy Powerball tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website or the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

For details on how money raised by the lottery makes a difference for education programs in all 100 North Carolina counties, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.