'I'd Buy An Island:' Powerball Players Dream Big As Jackpot Soars To $758.7 Million
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The excitement built all day Wednesday as jackpot chasers look to cash in on the $758.7 million Powerball prize.
The winning numbers are 6, 7, 16, 23, 26, and Powerball 4.
The jackpot is the second largest in U.S. history.
Although the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot is one in 292.2 million, that's not stopping people from racing to buy up tickets for Wednesday night's drawing.
Sandeep Jain owns a convenience store in Forest Hills, Queens, which he says has been bustling for days.
"Every second they're coming to buy the Powerball," he said.
Lottery fever was also running hot at Maggie's Liquor Store and Bar in Ringwood after a winning $1 million ticket was sold Saturday.
Four Ringwood ladies who have been working together as groomers at Garden State Barkway for more than two years won that $1 million ticket.
"Laura is the one that always makes us play, so we do Sot, and when she plays we win $4. She made me and Alice do it this time, and that's why we won!" said Kim Visser.
Jen Clause sold the women the winning Quick Draw ticket at Maggie's, which is two doors down from the grooming shop.
"I had the million-dollar ticket in my hand," Clause said.
The co-workers will each get $167,500.
"I am going to pay off some bills, and I have a 3-year-old son at home and one on the way, so saving for my future for my kids," added Kristie Ellicott.
Of course, the groomers bought tickets for the Wednesday night jackpot, CBS2's Meg Baker reported.
The latest $700 million prize refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years. The lump-sum option would be $443.3 million.
"My brain can't even comprehend that kind of cash," Powerball player Seth Auerbach. "I'd buy an island."
"I would definitely gift my children something," first-time player and mother of six, Leslie Mendez, said. "For me, I would just go on an island. I probably would buy an island."
One firefighter, who bought 50 tickets with his battalion buddies in Fort Lee, New Jersey, told 1010 WINS' John Montone that on his big payday he plans to hire a chef, a masseuse and an attorney before assembling an entourage.
But another Powerball player, named Jose, had less grand plans.
"I'd be broke the next day cause I'd have all kinds of family coming out of the woodwork and helping them all out, every other friend that I haven't seen in years, ex-girlfriends, everyone," Jose said, adding that after all that, he'll get himself a little getaway place down at the Jersey shore.
Everyone has a game plan for winning. Some pick their own numbers.
"My dad's birthday and my anniversary and kids' birthdays," said Jen Cecchini of Ringwood.
"Just quick pick," said Tyler Mattheis, who works in Ringwood. "Just odds -- no point picking numbers and getting all bent out of shape over it."
And some people would not talk to CBS2 after they bought their tickets, saying they did not want to jinx their chances of winning.
The store that sells the winning ticket gets a flat fee of $10,000, but lottery officials say big winners often throw in a very large tip.
Powerball is played in 44 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
