Tuesday evening, the Mega Millions jackpot was at $636 million dollars. That’s the second highest cash prize in lottery history.
That cash has people in the Quad Cities traveling to lotto retailers, buying their chance at a prize of a lifetime.
Dawn Davis works at the 7-eleven on 16th Street in Moline. She says she has sold more lottery tickets in the past couple of days than she ever has.
“It’s been pretty exciting. If somebody does win it from our store it would be really cool to have them around here,” said Davis as she stood behind her cash register.
Davis started her shift at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. She says nearly every customer she sees is buying the Mega Millions ticket.
“A lot of them say they want to take vacations, one way trips to different places anywhere but here,” said Davis.
“Some even say they will remember me win they win and give me a cut.”
News 8 traveled throughout the Quad Cities, talking to those who purchased their tickets. Some had well-organized plans on how they would spend the money – others simply didn’t know what they would do.
“I bought ten of them,” said Brad Bowers as he walked out of a Casey’s convenient store in Davenport.
“I will be taking a helicopter out of Iowa and never coming back,” Bower added.
Other’s planned on leaving Iowa – but just for a small vacation.
“I would take my family on a vacation to Florida,” exclaimed one lady as she climbed into her SUV.
Those who do win have two options: take the lump sum or take an annual payment.
The drawing will be Tuesday night, November 17th, at 10 p.m. CT. If there are no winners – the next drawing will take place at 10 p.m. CT on Friday, November 20th.