Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

$325 Million Up For Grabs

Aired April 16, 2002 - 14:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The second-richest lottery ever in the U.S. is up for grabs tonight with $325 million on the line. And it could go even higher, topping the $363 million record. The high odds against winning apparently haven't stopped people from spending a few dollars though.

Just how bad are your odds at winning? Well, the big game has odds of 1 in 76 million. That compares to: freezing to death, about 3 million to 1. Being killed by falling out of a bed, 2 million to 1. And one is much more likely to die in a car crash, with the odds of that being 5,000 to 1. Oof!

Well, even with nearly impossible odds of winning, people are flocking to convenience stores and no doubt over state lines to get their hands on what they hope is a winning ticket. Joining us now from Augusta, Georgia with more on lotto fever, CNN's Sean Callebs. Hi, Sean.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra, you're exactly right. Lotto fever is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this area of the country, without questions. We're at a Pilots service station, truck stop. It is in Augusta, Georgia, right on the border between Georgia and South Carolina. What makes this significant, Georgia is part of the seven states, taking part of the big game. South Carolina is not.

If you look down, there's a long line. There's about 45, 50 people here. I bet you most of them are from South Carolina. A lot of people making that short trip across the border. This is the first exit here. Doing what they can to cash in on the $325-plus million drawing scheduled at 11:00 Eastern Time tonight.

Talk about those odds, 1 in 76 million. To give you another idea, we heard from somebody today that there's a better chance of the world ending after being hit by a killer meteor than picking all six numbers. But that is not slowing people.

Want to pan over just a moment to show you Wanda. She's been behind the register here at the lottery machine throughout the day. And if she doesn't have carpal tunnel at the end of the day, then it just doesn't exist. She has been working nonstop. The line, as I mentioned, about 45, 50 people here at this Pilots station. This is just one scores of them in the seven states across the country.

Coming back over here, we give you an idea of the people standing in line. Joining us now, Randy Gant (ph). He is from Charlotte, North Carolina, so he made about a two-and-a-half hour scream down here on the interstate this morning. And show us what you got here. You got all these and about $950 in lottery tickets?

RANDY GANT (PH), BIG GAME PLAYER: That's right.

CALLEBS: What do you think about those odds? Any chance at all of winning?

GANT: Well, somebody's got to win. Somebody's going to win, somewhere.

CALLEBS: Now, there's been 18 consecutive drawings with no big winner. What do you think tonight? A lot of these are guys that you work with, good friends. Not uncommon. Tell me how all this came about.

GANT: We were just sitting around. The owner of the company called me this morning and said, "We want to go get some lottery tickets, and you're elected." So here I am.

CALLEBS: Big question: what are you going to do with the cash once you win?

GANT: Give a lot of it away. There's no telling. I'd quit work. I'm not one of those who say, I'm going to keep working. No, I quit. I'm done.

CALLEBS: Very good. Very noble and very honest. Thanks very much, Randy.

Now, lottery officials are offering some words of caution today. They're telling people, look, don't invest money that you simply don't have. Don't drop the mortgage payment. Don't spend the kids' college money. But if indeed this buying frenzy continues at the pace that it's going, we could top the current U.S. record of about $363 million for a one-time pay off. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Wow. All right, Sean Callebs, cheesy question. You know it's coming. I have to ask you, did you buy a ticket?

CALLEBS: Oh, yes, I have them right here.

PHILLIPS: Are you serious?

CALLEBS: Yes, right here. Come on, 1 in 76 million. Like Randy said, someone's got to win. Actually, I went in with some friends and then -- our crew, we all bought one together as well. And you can get the split up over 26 years, or get a one-time payoff. You have six months to decide, so I have plenty of time once I quit work after I win the 300 million...

PHILLIPS: Oh, so you would quit work?

CALLEBS: In a heartbeat, come on!

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Oh, Sean!

CALLEBS: No, just joking. I'm committed to this.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. Well, you gave us some great energy out there. We got the vibe. Thanks so much. Sean Callebs, all right, good luck.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com