MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - The Powerball jackpot has reached $850 million, making it one of the largest in history, and players across the St. Louis area are eager to try their luck.

As excitement builds, people are lining up at local stores like 7-Eleven, hoping to win the massive prize. Despite the odds being just 1 in 292 million, the dream of turning a small investment into a life-changing fortune is drawing many to buy tickets.

"I would definitely buy 6,000 acres in Iowa to hunt on, and then I would live my life stress-free by not having to sell my junk on Facebook Marketplace," said Kyle Orf.

The current jackpot is the seventh largest in Powerball history, having rolled over since May 31 without a winner. The potential lump sum payout stands at $368 million, a staggering amount that could increase if more people participate.

"I have three children! I would take care of them for sure. And they’re all college graduates, so I would take care of any debt and all that. I have a grandbaby on the way in September. I’d definitely make sure she’s taken care of. My guy needs a new truck; I’d make sure he had a new car, and after that I would just enjoy life," said Debbie Hollomon.

Interestingly, some players have expressed that even if they won, they would not quit their jobs.

"I’m going to stay on the job! A lot of people that I work with probably wouldn’t even know I won," said Dwight Gardener.

With the jackpot continuing to grow, the allure of the Powerball remains strong, keeping the hopes and dreams of many players alive.

"I want to give back to every community. Not just the city of St. Louis—the county of St. Louis...further out," said Michael Tyler. "I want to give back. I want to get to the young Black men."

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.