Record jackpot fuels dreams

SANDPOINT — Just how big is today’s world record Powerball jackpot?

Put a dollar bill on the ground. Now lay another one of top of it. Keep going until you’ve used up all of the $1.5 billion that make up the jackpot. Welcome to space — or pretty darn close.

It’s that big.

“Welcome to the one percent if you win,” joked Conoco employee Forrest Starritt in between selling tickets to a steady stream of customers Tuesday.

Starritt said since as the jackpot has grown, so have the number of customers walking in the door.

“I’ve seen people I’ve never seen before in my life coming in and getting tickets,” he said. “If it’s not busy busy, at the very least it’s one after another just coming in. Easily about 70 percent of my business is just people buying Powerball tickets.”

Robert Macumber said he doesn’t buy a lot of Powerball tickets because he hasn’t had the best of luck with them.

“I’ve bought more this week than I ever have in my life,” he said.

While he hasn’t given a lot of thought to what he’d do if he won, Macumber said he would “put a heck of a bunch of people to work.” He isn’t sure just how, that he “hasn’t figured that one out yet,” but that whatever he did would help boost the area’s economy.

Paula Royer also was among those stopping by the convenience store to buy a few tickets.

“Why not, really?” she said. “If you don’t have a ticket, you can’t win.”

Like many others, she isn’t sure what she would do if she won, in part because of just how large the jackpot is.

“Hopefully do some philanthropic stuff,” she said. “It’s just fun to think about. I just can’t believe no one has won.”

Brian Boyd, who also bought a few tickets, joked he only stopped because he saw other lined up to try their luck at the Powerball jackpot.

While he occasionally buys a ticket or two, here and there, Boyd said it’s all “pure luck and no strategy” and lets the machine pick his numbers.

“I’d pay off all the family’s houses and car loans and see ya,” he laughed. “You might not hear from me for a year or two.”

For many stopping in, the drawing offers a chance to dream a bit. They joke that it better be the winning ticket or they will want their money back. Others promise to give him a million dollars if they win.

“People are very hopefully,” he said. “Really, pretty much everybody who comes in is banking on this for retirement. People are excited it’s that big. It’s really kind of mind-boggling, I think.”

If a winning ticket is drawn, the estimated annuity prize of $1.5 billion has a cash equivalent of $930 million, and Idaho Lottery officials said the dividends brought into the state are also mounting. An estimated $3 million in dividends were created just from last week’s Powerball sales alone and since this jackpot run began in November 2015, Powerball alone has generated nearly $5 million in dividends.

In the event Idaho has a jackpot winning ticket Wednesday night, the retail location that sells the winning ticket would receive a $50,000 bonus from the Idaho Lottery.

A jackpot winner would also benefit the state from withholding taxes on the prize. If the winner, or winners, elect to receive the one-time cash equivalent, the state of Idaho would receive a nearly $70 million windfall.

Players are encouraged to purchase tickets early instead of waiting until the last few minutes before the draw. Lines are common at retail locations across the Gem State, with some lines lasting as much as an hour in the towns along Idaho’s border with Utah. The last time players can purchase tickets is 7:55 p.m. Mountain Time tonight.

“Please be patient, have fun with this historic jackpot run, and remember it only takes one ticket to win,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery director. “Good luck, Idaho!”