Mega Millions Winning Numbers For $1.6B Jackpot

UPDATE: The winning numbers are: 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5.

The jackpot has rolled over without a winner a total of 24 times. The last time someone hit the Mega jackpot: way back on July 24.

NEW YORK, NY — New Yorkers flooded neighborhood bodegas on Tuesday — armed with a few bucks and aspirations of obscene wealth — to pick up tickets ahead of the upcoming drawing of the Mega Millions lottery.

Even the most level-headed city dwellers couldn't resist the siren's call of a $1.6 billion jackpot despite the chance of winning standing at 1 in 302,575,350. Most New Yorkers admitted they didn't think they would win the big prize, but the sense of excitement was enough to entice them to play.

The drawing will take place at 11 p.m. and we will post the winning numbers right here as soon as they are drawn. (Sign up for Patch news alerts here to get them straight to your inbox.) You can also watch the drawing live on WABC 7.

"Nobody's going to win," George Geatrakis said as he shuffled out of a tiny store on West 29th Street. "I did it for fun, that's all."

Keith Crago and Chris Portelli admitted they bought their Mega Millions tickets because "we're just like every other idiot that wants to win a ton of money."

Portelli said he would skip out on any big purchases if he wins the jackpot and opt to help out his family and hire an investment adviser.

Helping out family members and friends was a common answer to the question "what are you going to do with the money."

Laura Haykel, who described herself as "known to be lucky," said she decided to buy a ticket after her mother called her and told her she had to play. When the jackpot came up randomly while talking to a friend, Haykel said she couldn't ignore the possibility of winning $1.6 billion.

"When I win I will start a foundation," Haykel said confidently. "I will pay off mine and all of my closest friends' and family's debt. I will start an education fund and do a thousand different things to support the evolution and transformation of humanity on planet earth and world peace.

"And I'll also have a lot of fun and travel around the world."

The Mega Millions numbers will be drawn on Tuesday at 11 p.m., according to the New York State Lottery website. The deadline to buy a ticket is 15 minutes before the draw. Winning tickets will match all five numbers and the mega ball.

Secondary winners who match all five numbers but do not hit the mega ball will win $1 million. There's a 1 in 12,607,306 chance to claim the prize.

Photo by Brendan Krisel/Patch