Powerball jackpot reaches $500 million

Mark Boesen stands in line to puchase Powerball lottery tickets at Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne on Feb. 11. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 11, 2015 10:05 AM PT

Brisk ticket sales across the country have bumped the jackpot to $500 million from $485 million.

Don Cheng buys a ticket at Sam’s Liquor store in El Monte as anticipation is growing among lottery hopefuls for the $500-million Powerball jackpot. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Millionaire hopefuls stand in a long line to pick their Powerball numbers at Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne. Brisk ticket sales across the country have bumped the jackpot to $500 million from $485 million. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Carita Ingersoll, of Gardena, picks her Powerball numbers at Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Boesen displays his Powerball lottery tickets purchased at Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Arthur Chen buys a Powerball ticket at Sam’s Liquor store in El Monte. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)