Powerball win unlikely, many play anyway

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - In the hours before the record jackpot Powerball numbers were drawn Wednesday, people flocked to Party World on Alpine Avenue to get their tickets.

Photos: Powerball mania

The so-called "Luckiest Store in Michigan," Party World has had seven winners of more than $100,000 in the last five years.

"The big deal is that Powerball is up to $550 million," Party World employee Robert Antor said Wednesday afternoon.

But by the time the numbers were drawn at 10:59 p.m., the jackpot was worth $579.9 million, according to the Associated Press, making the cash option $379.8 million.

--

The Powerball numbers are:   5, 23, 16, 22, 29    Powerball 6

--

Antor said he's the guy with the luck, and he's also the guy handing out the tickets.

"We are veterans of selling people winning lottery tickets here. I definitely spread some luck to some people," he said. "I sold someone a $57 million Mega Millions ticket, which was on Friday the 13th, and I also broke the mirror that day accidentally here."

"I don't know if I'm defying the bad luck thing or if I'm just giving all my luck away, but it seems to work" Antor added.

It's a good bet that someone in the nation will win the jackpot after the Wednesday evening drawing -- a 75% likelihood, in fact, experts say.

But the odds of winning the jackpot on a single ticket are still 1 in 175,223,510, according to NBC News. NBC says you're more likely to get drafted to the NBA after college as a high school senior, become a movie star or become president.

Don't tell Lisa Kondrat of Grand Rapids that.

"You should just not bother because I'm going to win," she said Wednesday afternoon.

According to Michigan Lottery numbers from Wednesday night, two people in Michigan did get big payoffs of $1 million each by matching five of the white balls. And 18 others won $10,000 each.

But according to the Michigan Lottery website, no one in Michigan won the $580 million jackpot.

Roger Vanderheide, meanwhile, knows he won't likely win the lottery, so he doesn't play. That's only noteworthy considering the long shot he did pull off.

"A hole in one that I had," he said.

His three sons watched him make that hole in one, which won him a trip to Hawaii.

"Trip is great. We're really looking forward to that," he said.

But Vanderheide looks at the odds of winning the Powerball and he's not optimistic.

"My odds aren't that good," said Vanderheide.

Photos: What to buy with $550 million