How NJ Residents Would Spend The $620M Powerball Jackpot

If you're anyone except one very, very lucky South Carolina resident, you lost the $1.6 billion Mega Millions drawing. Don't call it quits on your millionaire dreams just yet: Wednesday night's Powerball drawing has ballooned to $620 million. Hey, someone's got to win it.

The winning numbers were 3 21 45 53 56 Powerball 22.

The $620 million Powerball jackpot is one of the larger ones in the game's history, but still much smaller than the all-time highest jackpot of $1.586 billion in 2016. The jackpot hasn't been won since August, allowing the winnings to really pile up.

And sure, the odds of winning are really, really slim— about 1 in 292.2 million— but it's still fun to dream about how to spend the winnings.

"I'd quit my day job and be a full time Councilman!" Edison Councilman Sam Joshi told Patch.

"I'd get a granny pod, take my 90-year-old old dad who has dementia out of the VA, and have him have the best round the clock care surrounded by those that love him 24/7.... NO better way to enjoy the winnings then bringing my dad back home," New Jerseyan Rosalie Caramucci-Roe said.

Other New Jersey residents would use the money to be, well, not New Jersey residents. Several people told Patch they'd use their winnings to move someone else, like a private island or Cape Cod.

Despite not being a record-breaker, $620 million is nothing to scoff at, and you can't win if you don't play. Here's everything you need to know about buying tickets:

What time is the Powerball drawing?

In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, if you're playing the game — or just curious to see if you cousin's best friend's uncle wins that jackpot — you'll want to be on the lookout for the winning numbers at 11 p.m.

How much are Powerball tickets?

Tickets cost $2 to purchase. All New Jersey Lottery Mega Millions tickets must be purchased before 10:45 p.m. to participate in the drawing. In Pennsylvania, the cut-off time for purchase is 9:59 p.m.

How much would I really take home?

Less than $620 million. That number is how much you get if you pick the annuity, paid out over 29 years. Most go for the lump-sum payment, which is $354.3 million. And don't forget about taxes!

Where to buy a Powerball ticket

• Click here to search for all New Jersey Lottery retailers.
• Click here to search for all Pennsylvania Lottery retailers.

Powerball results for Wednesday, Oct. 24

Be sure to check back here for the winning numbers as soon as they are announced! We will update this story with the numbers and let you know if anyone struck gold!

If no one wins on Wednesday then the jackpot will roll over once again to Saturday.

Image via Katie Kausch for Patch