Wednesday's Powerball jackpot hits $550 million

As the Powerball frenzy continues, people across the nation are rushing out to buy their ticket to a dream, but winning the jackpot can sometime translate to major losses. NBC's Erica Hill reports on the lottery "curse" and two September Powerball winners how their lives have changed, for better and for worse. By NBC News staff and wire services Someone could win $550 million in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing, the largest in the game's history. The jackpot jumped up from half a billion dollars on Wednesday, according to the Powerball website. Powerball is played across the 42 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands. As big as this week's Powerball jackpot is, it's not the largest lottery prize ever. That mark is held by the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot that was split by three ticket buyers earlier this year. The previous biggest Powerball prize was $365 million in 2006, shared by several ConAgra Foods workers in Lincoln, Neb. This story will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report. More content from NBCNews.com: Can $550 million make you happy? Not really Four men sue NJ organization over 'gay conversion' therapy Military women sue over 'combat exclusion' rule South Korea to sack Tampa socialite Jill Kelley as honorary consul Search for missing Colorado boy suspended as lake sweep yields no clues Video: Sandy damage rivals Katrina Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook