Hoosiers dream of winning millions

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - It's the richest Powerball pot ever. The jackpot now stands at a whopping $500 million.

"I took a nap today and went out and I bought a Powerball ticket," Lafayette native Rita Fisher said.

Rita Fisher said she typically plays the lotto.

"I buy the Powerball and buy the Mega Millions," Fishers explained.

But Fisher said she's hoping this time around she finally picks the winning numbers.

"Most of the time I do the quick picks," Fishers said. "But today I went on the numbers of my husband's birthday and my birthday."

But the million dollar question is what would you do if you won a half-billion dollars?

"500 million?" Lafayette resident Bernie Fisher asked. "Oh, I'd buy the fanciest RV you ever saw. That sucker would be 45 feet long. I would spend probably a million bucks just on that."

"Like everybody, I'd help family and friends and do charities," Fisher said. "And then I think we would do a lot more traveling than what we're doing now. The rest of it I actually do not have any idea. It would just scare us to death I think."

"I would pay off debts and student loans," Lafayette resident Nicole Gregg said. "I'd also buy a new house, a new car and things for my parents and in-laws."

"My husband would probably quit his job," Lafayette resident Elizabeth Livengood said. "We would take care of our family. All of of our family as many as we could reach. We would travel and I would honestly probably go back to school just because if I could be a professional student I would."

Until now, the biggest Powerball pot on record was $365 million. With the jackpot at $500 million some Hoosiers said they're ready to get lucky.

"I probably wouldn't believe it," Gregg said. "I wouldn't know what to do. I wouldn't know if I'd call into work or go or I don't know."

The cash option is a massive $327 million. But until someone picks the winning numbers the pot can grow even larger.

Powerball lottery is played in 42 States, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Wednesday morning Hoosier Lottery gave away 500 free Powerball tickets at the Village Pantry on State Road 38 in Lafayette.

The ticket giveaway started at 6 a.m. and lasted until all 500 Powerball tickets were handed out.

Players must be 18 years or older to participate.