Powerball jackpot climbs to $450 million

JACKSON, Tenn. — The estimated jackpot for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing climbed to $450 million thanks to strong sales.

Customers purchased Powerball tickets Tuesday in Jackson. “I feel like I may be holding the right ticket today,” Ricky Conrad said.

Conrad got scratch-offs and a Powerball ticket at the BP on Hollywood Drive and Interstate 40. “It’s a very lucky store here,” he said.

The store sold a winning $2 million ticket in 2013. “So many people wins out of here,” Conrad said.

Customer Rodney Sheffield said he believes the store could be lucky. “I play scratch-offs here and tend to win every now and then, but as far as the lotto go, yeah, it’s a good possibility,” he said.

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News asked Sheffield why the BP is lucky. He said it is the location. “All the traffic that comes through here, it generates a lot of money,” Sheffield said.

If Sheffield wins the jackpot, he said he would not spend all the money on himself. “I would definitely share it,” he said.

“I’d buy a new Porsche, my wife a new house,” Conrad said.

If no one wins Wednesday night, the prize will keep climbing.

The biggest jackpot ever was a $656 million Mega Millions prize won in 2012.