The US Mega Millions jackpot climbed to nearly $1 billion for Friday's draw, the largest ever for the contest, and the second biggest US lottery on record, trailing a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot paid out in 2016.
The draw, which rose from $667 million on Tuesday when no one had the lucky six numbers, will take place on Friday night. Powerball will hold a separate drawing on Saturday for an estimated $430 million jackpot.
The potential winnings are so large New Yorkers lining up to buy tickets had plans for spending only a small fraction of the fortune.
A few dreamed of visiting Hawaii, funding their retirement or buying a vacation home. The immediate cash value of the Mega Millions prize is $548 million. Otherwise $970 million is paid out over 29 years.
Among the throngs dreaming of what to do with potential winnings was Erica Young, who works in the Manhattan hotel industry, and who decided to buy a ticket a day ahead of the drawing.
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Young said she had played the lottery before, but "only when it's huge," she said.
Each of the 24 semi-weekly drawings have failed to produce a top winner since July 24, when an 11-member office pool in Santa Clara County, California, hit a $543 million jackpot.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 302,575,350, but Young said she already had plans for some things she would do if she struck gold.
“I’d take the females in my family down 47th street and go buy jewellery," she said. "I’d take about $50 million, and I’d give that to friends, family and charities. The rest I’d put in the bank and live off the interest. You know, the usual stuff.”
