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WILKES-BARRE — If you have $2 and a dream, now might be the time to take your shot at fame and fortune.
Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot stands at an estimated $654 million, making it the fourth largest in U.S. history.
What would you do with that ridiculous amount of money?
Some area residents have a few ideas.
Jose Roman and Tasha Christian, both of Wilkes-Barre, say they would start organizations to help people in need.
“I would like to open a shelter for men and women,” said Christian, 41. “I would also like to start up intervention programs for a bulk of issues we see in the area, like alcohol, drugs and domestic violence.
“The only thing I would purchase for myself is a house.”
Roman, 61, also has altruistic desires. He said he would establish a program for veterans to empower them spiritually.
“I don’t think this country has done enough for the veterans and their families,” he said.
Of his chances of winning, he noted: “You got to be in it to win it. If it’s meant to be, it’s going to be.”
Greg Thompson has some vacation plans if his six numbers hit.
“I’m originally from the South,” said Thompson, 53. “I’d take my family on a nice trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Then I’d probably retire.”
Jamar Howard, 38, said he’s never played the lottery, but if he claimed the Mega Millions jackpot he would buy three houses and four Dodge Vipers. (2017 models of the sports car start at about $88,000.)
Meanwhile, retailers have noticed an definite uptick in lottery interest.
“It’s been a very crazy day,” said Anthracite Newstand cashier Ann Marie Bossard. “People who have never bought a ticket have stopped in to try their luck.”
Bossard estimated that more than 100 stopped at the 1 E. Market St. shop to buy a ticket Monday.
“There practically hasn’t been anyone who hasn’t come in to buy a Mega Million or Powerball ticket,” she added.
Bossard said she purchased a ticket herself. If she was lucky enough to win, she promised to be very generous to her family and others.
“I’d make sure my nieces and nephews were well taken care of along with local churches,” Bossard said.
The $654 million jackpot refers to the annuity option, which is paid out over 29 years. Players, though, have the option of taking $372 million in cash, which the Associated Press says has been the choice of most winners.
If nobody wins Tuesday night’s drawing, you can expect the jackpot to climb significantly later in the week.
By the way, the AP says the odds of winning the jackpot are one in 302.5 million.
Good luck!
