How would New Yorkers spend $800 million? They'd start by getting out of town.
A group of New Yorkers playing Saturday’s record-setting $800 million Powerball lottery shared some of their wish-list items with DNAinfo New York.
"I would leave New York," said legal assistant Amy Gregory, "And buy myself a nice small townhome or condo, one vehicle, and live happily ever after."
MTA worker Omar Wilson said he would use the cash to buy some “peace, quiet and tranquility…and some charity.”
When pressed on how exactly he would purchase peace and tranquility, Wilson said he’s “not sure" yet.
"I’ll take a one-week vacation and figure all that out.”
Others, like technician Ariel Lopez, were more altruistic.
“Of course I’m going to take care of the family and friends and do the right thing. Do the best I can to help people out," Lopez said.
The Lottery is also allowing second-place winners to get some extra cash. Players can spend an extra dollar to increase their prize for matching all five numbers from $1 million to $2 million.
You shouldn’t get your hopes up too much, though. The odds of hitting all five numbers and the Powerball is 1 in 292.2 million.
The odds of matching all five numbers without the Powerball is slightly better at 1 in 11.6 million.
The drawing will be at 10:59 p.m. on Saturday.
