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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Thousands across the nation lined up to purchase lottery tickets for a chance to win a $1.4 billion Powerball jackpot on Wednesday night.
The winning numbers on Wednesday are with a Powerball number of 3, 16, 29, 61, and 69, with a Powerball of 22. The Power Play multiplier is 2X.
The prize pool was expanded after no winning ticket was drawn on Tuesday.
According to the Virginia Lottery, an estimated $3.7 million worth of Powerball tickets will have been bought in Virginia and were selling at a rate of more than 3,700 tickets per minute just on Wednesday.
One gas station manager witnessed the lottery frenzy himself.
“I came in around 3:30, and I can’t even tell you how many we’ve sold,” he said. “I mean, we sold a lot, and I expect us to sell a lot more.”
This massive prize will be the sixth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot. No one has won a grand prize since the May 31 drawing, per the AP.
The chances of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Any individual is more likely to be struck by lightning or bowl a perfect game than have a golden Powerball ticket.
Even with a slim shot at the jackpot, people are still optimistic about their numbers and what they’d do with $1.4 billion.
“First of all, I’d pay my tithes to the church,” one buyer said. “After that, I’d pay my debts off, and then I’m going to take a long vacation.”
“I’d probably help some people out,” another player said. “Pay off some of my bills and then possibly take a very, very long vacation.”
Jackpot payments can be allotted over 30 years, or winners can opt for an immediate cash payment, which would be an estimated $634.3 million for this drawing.
Part of the profits collected from Powerball ticket purchases in Tennessee and Virginia will go to supporting K-12 education.