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$500 MILLION JACKPOT
Lottery Enthusiasts Scramble For A Chance At Record Powerball

Reported by: Send eMail Kristin Keeling
Videographer: Bob Frank; John Tincher
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Nov. 28, 2012 8:26 AM EST
Updated: Nov. 28, 2012 10:37 AM EST

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

With the prize skyrocketing from $4.25 million to $500 million overnight, there is a lot of money up for grabs in this huge Powerball jackpot.

And you would be surprised what people say they would do with all of that loot. But the chance of hitting this record breaking jackpot is far from easy.

With the drawing slated for Wednesday night, people are scrambling to get their hands on a $2 ticket, hoping to score the half a billion dollars.

"That's millions of dollars right there that you could do anything you want with," Richard Wilmore of Charleston said.

So, what would a person do with all of that loot?

Wilmore has some big plans. “Buy a big old house. Or I'd just buy West Virginia," he said.

Charleston resident John Sweeney said he would “probably give half of it away.”

Ruby Clendenin of Charleston said she would pay off her grandson's student loans.

Fairmont resident Steve Leach said he would buy his son a house and give some money to the church.

The jackpot is obviously big, the biggest in Powerball history. But it's not the biggest ever. Earlier this year, the Mega Millions jackpot was worth even more when three winners split $656 million.

Tickets are being sold in 42 states and in the District of Columbia. Experts say the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175 million.

Leach just wants to be in the running. "At least I'm in the mix," he said.

Getting in the mix is why a lot of people are testing their luck. But some people said the shock of winning may be too much to handle. "I'd probably have a heart attack and pass out here or something," Wilmore said.

Eyewitness News will have the numbers for you tonight at 11.



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