This Christmas Eve could mark the start of a very happy holiday for someone, as the Powerball jackpot soars to $1.7 billion.
The jackpot before Wednesday’s (Dec. 24) drawing is the fourth-largest in the game’s history, and Metro Detroit is feeling the excitement.
Curtis Harris, a Powerball player, stopped by Billi’s Convenience Store with a winner’s mindset and holiday cheer.
“Powerball tickets!” Harris called out as he entered.
“How many?” asked Local 4 reporter Kyla Russell.
“Uh, eight,” Harris replied.
Harris shared the holiday spirit, joking, “He was like merry Christmas, so it might be a good Christmas gift, and if I hit, guy, wherever you at — we can go half?”
The store clerk, Ahmed Alhaidali, noted the surge in customers.
“We see new customers today, and we expected it to be slow with the holiday, but because of the Powerball, we are seeing new faces.”
In just 10 minutes, customers put down $1,000, $500, and $400 on tickets.
The cash option for the jackpot stands at $781.3 million.
If someone wins the $1.7 billion jackpot on Wednesday night, it would be only the second time a Powerball jackpot has been won on Christmas Eve.
Stay tuned for the winning numbers on Local 4 News at 11.