(Image source: The News Journal )


BY MALLORY PERRYMAN

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN


It’s a jackpot worth nearly half a billion dollars.


The top taking in the Mega Millions drawing is up to $476 million big ones. That makes it the biggest jackpot in U.S. history.

With 42 states and the District of Columbia offering up tickets —local news stations are going live from the lines —  long lines in this video from Los Angeles. (Video: KABC )

They’re interviewing folks about what they’d do with the eye-popping prize.

( WCNC )
Reporter: “What are you going to do with that money?”
Guy 1: “Probably go to Vegas and party it up pretty good.”
Guy 2: “Oh man we going on vacation man. Bahamas.”

( KEZI)
“A significant portion of this would be invested in some church activities and then some donations to some critical causes.”

( WOAI )
Man 1: “Share it with my family. Go to Disneyland.”
Man 2: “I’d probably invest it. Definitely invest it.”

( WREX )
“Clear the debt. Help my sister out. I have daughter in college. And if could get a new car... and maybe a little bitty vacation... that’d probably do it.”

The whopping jackpot is so big because no one has won the top prize since January 24th. So what are your odds of winning? Here’s WRTV .

“The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 175 million. The winner can receive the winnings spread over 26 years or receive a cash payment of about 259 million dollars before taxes.”

Of course, maybe it’s best you don’t flirt with those odds — as it seems local TV news reporters across the country already have dibs on the winning ticket.

( KEZI )
“Brian I’ve got my lottery ticket right here”

( WBTV )
“... on top of that, I’m thinking I already bought the winning ticket.”

( KNBC )
“Uh yeah I’m going to buy the winning ticket but we’ll argue about that later.”

( WFXT )
“Shannon let me just say, don’t even bother I’ve already purchased the winning ticket. It’s not worth spending your money now.”

( WREX )
“We couldn’t resist here at WREX, we’ve already got our tickets. So cross your fingers, I might not be in tomorrow.”

According to The Atlantic Wire — in 2007, someone from Georgia won the largest jackpot in Mega Millions history to date. That was a $390 million prize.



(SOC)