$1 billion Mega Millions jackpot keeps growing
At Gittel’s Grocery in Coeur d’Alene, Theresa Cronister sells a Mega Millions ticket to Taylor Curtis. The jackpot is more than $1 billion. KAYE THORNBRUGH/Press
COEUR d’ALENE — Taylor Curtis bought his second-ever lottery ticket Wednesday afternoon.
He bought his first ticket Tuesday, at Gittel’s Grocery on Government Way, hours before the $1 billion Mega Millions drawing, a jackpot that went unclaimed and continues to grow.
It’s the third largest jackpot on record — and expected to reach $1.02 billion by the next drawing Friday evening.
Though he wasn’t optimistic about his chances — the odds of hitting the jackpot are one in 302.5 million — Curtis decided to take another shot and purchase a $2 ticket.
“Why not?” he said with a smile.
The Coeur d’Alene resident has some ideas about how he’d spend a billion dollars — or a few hundred million, after taxes.
A million bucks for each of his three siblings. Five million for each of his parents. He’d take care of his friends, too.
But for himself? He hasn’t thought that far ahead.
He wouldn’t quit his job as a tile setter, though. Not for all the money in the world.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s my passion.”
Since July 20, about $2.3 million in Mega Millions tickets have been sold statewide. Approximately $230,000 of those sales happened in Kootenai County — around $38,000 a day.
A Meridian resident reportedly won $30,000 in Tuesday’s drawing. But the last Idahoan to hit the jackpot was Rathdrum resident Holly Lahti, who won $190 million in 2011.
Plenty of locals are looking to be the next big winner.
Gittel’s employee Theresa Cronister said scores of people tried their luck Tuesday.
“This poor machine got a workout,” she said.
A month ago, on June 26, the store sold 24 Mega Millions tickets. On Tuesday, it sold 118 — a little more than $800 worth. Some customers dropped as much as $60 at once.
“This is crazy,” Cronister said.
Fewer people bought tickets Wednesday, but Cronister said she expects the fever pitch to increase again as Friday’s drawing nears.
Sherie Moody-St. Clair, marketing director for the Idaho Lottery, noted that it’s not necessary to spend big bucks in the hopes of winning even more.
“It only takes one ticket to win,” she said. “Just play wise and don’t go overboard for what you can afford.”