$600 Million Powerball Saturday

The jackpot for the Powerball lottery has soared to a record $600 million and the top prize may swell to nearly $1 billion if no one draws the winning numbers this weekend, a lottery official said on Friday.

The potential payout of Saturday's jackpot could mean a one-time lump sum payment of $376.9 million. Officials reported brisk ticket sales across the country.

The popular lottery, which is played in 42 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, has not had a winner in two months.

The previous largest Powerball jackpot record was $587.5 million in November 2012. According to Powerball, the odds of winning the big prize on Saturday are one in 175 million.

If no match is made for all winning five numbers and the Powerball, the jackpot could grow to nearly $1 billion.

It's not a good retirement plan to count on winning the jackpot, but even the most conservative financial planners in the country are picking up tickets for themselves.