Fourth-highest Mega Millions jackpot ever eclipses $800M

Reporter: Lauren Leslie Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:
Mega Millions
The winning numbers will be picked Tuesday for the fourth highest Mega Millions Jackpot is over $800,000,000. (CREDIT: WINK News)

Imagine what you could do if you won Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot of $810,000,000, the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in history.

“When the money is bigger, you have to dream bigger,” according to Adrienne Michelle Tafoya. “That type of money, you just don’t even know what you would do.”

The thrill of turning $2 into life-changing Mega Millions money has Southwest Floridians buying in. Nobody is immune to this type of lottery fever, even Naples Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison.

“If you’re going to win it, you gotta be in it,” Hutchison said.

Mega Millions
Mega Millions lottery tickets ahead of the fourth largest jackpot ever. (CREDIT: WINK News)

If your ticket matches all five numbers and the Mega ball, Tuesday’s drawing would make you an overnight multimillionaire.

“I noticed yesterday the jackpot went up about $150 to $160,000,000 just since the last drawing, and if, Heaven forbid, somebody doesn’t win this time, it’s going to put it at $1 billion,” Hutchison said.

For both Hutchison and Tafoya, winning that kind of money would come with responsibility.

“I would invest in my own company and nonprofits and put that money back into doing what I already enjoy doing,” Tafoya said.

“It’s about doing something for other people, those less fortunate,” Hutchison said.

By choosing the lump sum option, the winner would get $470,000,000.

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