MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history is up for grabs Saturday for those willing to test their luck.
Nearly $1 billion dollars is on the line because no one picked the winning numbers for Wednesday’s $500 million Powerball jackpot.
If the lucky numbers are drawn, the winner has a choice of being paid $900 million through annual payments over 29 years or getting one lump sum of $558 million cash.
A prize of that size sent a lot of people to the stores in hopes of picking those winning numbers, hoping 2 bucks will bring them a life changing amount of money.
South Carolina is one of 47 jurisdictions where Powerball is played and as the clock ticks towards the drawing, lottery fever is in a frenzy.
“You’re talking about stupid money now. Money your grand kids couldn’t spend,” said Chuck Kenney.
“We have $1,144 worth bought,” said Kenney, who was making his purchase for 10 coworkers who pooled their money.
“I cant afford that, but I hope they’ll remember the guy who bought the tickets,” said Kenney, who also bought five tickets for himself, just in case he gets lucky.
“I’ve been going and going and going. Welling between $2 and $3 ones to $700 tickets,” said Amber Martin, who works at Turtle Market.
Martin says the demand is so strong, forget the lines, she’s had to change the ticket’s printer paper hourly during the busiest times.
“And it’s a long roll. Very, very thick so that’s a lot of tickets to go through in a couple hours. Two rolls,” said Martin.
Clerks at Turtle Market say Saturday’s lotto sales will top $5,000 compared to $500-800 on a typical night.
Computer engineer Tony Quintana knows the the odds of actually winning are slim, one in 292 million, “but this time, $800 or 900 million. I mean you can’t pass this up,” he said.
“Chances to win are very slim, but if you don’t play you never know,” said Quintana.
It’s a sentiment shared by many shoppers. Twala Devine usually never plays the lottery, but the record jackpot has changed all that.
“Twice in the past week because of the big money. What’s the chances? I don’t care (laughs) it might be me,” said Devine.
Thoughts of dollar signs has everyone dreaming of what they’re going to do with the money.
“I want to go to Amsterdam and Hawaii,” said Kenney.
“I want to grab all my family and go on an around the world trip,” said Quintana.
“The first car you would buy, the first place you would go, how many houses you would buy, things like that,” added Devine.
Tickets for Saturday’s jackpot must be bought by 9:59pm for the 10:59 p.m. Drawing.
Stay with News13 to get the winning numbers.
