CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Powerball fever is in full effect across the nation and right here in West Virginia. The jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing stands at $425 million. That’s the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot ever.
Folks were lining up at convenience stores and other lottery retailers to get their hands on one, two, 10 or even 50 tickets for the big drawing.
The winner could always take the annuity, but most ticketbuyers said they’re more interested in the instant cash option, which would add up to $244.7 million before taxes.
Jim Graff of Hurricane purchased a ticket at Charleston Town Center Mall on Wednesday in hopes of quitting his job a few years early.
“I’m funding my retirement account!”
As for what he’d do with all that money, Graff said that’s easy. “With $425 million? Buy an island!”
Xanna Bush from Webster Springs splurged in hopes of walking away a winner, but she admitted her chances of cashing that $425 million check are astronomical.
“Probably one in a blue million,” she joked.
St. Albans resident Ray Woods said if he has planned how to spend the jackpot.
“The church would get some, I’d pay off bills and maybe give a little bit to family,” said Woods, who waxed optimistic about his chances. “I like to think positive. So I’d say it’s good.”
Donald Jones of Spencer was hoping for the best but refused to get too caught up in the ticket-buying jackpot mania.
“I only buy one or two,” he said. “I don’t buy a lot of them.”
His big dreams of what he’d do with the dough: “I’d hire a lawyer and a chauffeur!”
The odds of winning the Powerball are 1 in 175 million.