It's an amount most people can't imagine getting their hands on, but Judy Lathrop would like to try.
"I don't normally play. I am not a gambling type of person, but if it gets to be high, I come, I take my chance," said Lathrop.
Sales skyrocket at stores when jackpots climb and $325 million is enough to ignite a little Powerball fever. Rocky's in downtown Syracuse is always a hot destination for players and clerk David Browning says a big jackpot keeps him busy.
"Definitely new faces and people will travel around from store to store playing one here, one there, and everything else too," said Browning.
For two dollars you have to match five numbers, plus the powerball for the biggest prize. The odds of winning are 1 in 175,223,510.
"Well, I am the one," said Don Lathrop. "Yeah, it is definitely going to be me."
Powerball says most people let the computer pick their numbers and 70-80% of the time, those people are the winners. While many of the buyers in Rocky's Saturday night were planning to pay bills, buy homes, or go on cruises...others were generous with their dreams of a big payout.
"I'd probably contribute 25% to a fund, a memorial fund of some sort," said Melissa Schwartz, who watched a family member struggle with cancer.
Judy Lathrop says she'd like a vacation, but she'd also help others if she is lucky enough to hit the jackpot. If she walks home empty handed, that's okay too.
"I'm the same person. I will go to work, I have my wonderful family and when the jackpot gets high again in another year or two, maybe in a few months...who knows, I will try one more time," said Lathrop.
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