Unless you’re stranded on a deserted island somewhere, you’ve heard the news that tomorrow’s Powerball prize is at a record $1.5 billion, meaning everyone, and I mean everyone, is hoping that January 13th, 2016 is the luckiest day that they’ll ever have in their life.
But those who are trying their luck by purchasing a ticket are just the Joe Schmo’s like you and I, as a few pro athletes—superstars, in fact—are trying to get a piece or all of the billions.
According to an ESPN.com story, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin—who makes $10 million a year to play hockey for a living—bought a ticket this past Saturday, as did New York Knicks’ leading scorer Carmelo Anthony, who makes a whopping $24 million this season.
Not even Alexander Ovechkin is immune to Powerball fever @espn @washcaps pic.twitter.com/oXIBkt50ce
— Jimmy Biscuits (@fishboyjim) January 10, 2016
Here’s what Ovi had to say about him buying the ticket, per ESPN:
Ovechkin, who plans to get more tickets, says: “It was funny. Who’s going to take a picture of me? It’s crazy. People are crazy.”
“I don’t know. Maybe one, maybe two,” he told reporters, when asked how many tickets he planned to buy for Wednesday’s drawing. “But there’s no chance you’re going to win. But if I win, I’ll let you guys know.”
So, while the guy can’t even reach the Stanley Cup Finals, he may just have the lucky touch on winning $1.5 billion from all of us.
As for Melo, here’s what he had to say:
“I don’t think I’m going to ever get hit by an asteroid, I don’t think I’m ever going to be president. I might have a better chance to win Powerball,” he said.
These guys do something for a living that you or I could only dream about, so if they end up winning anything from buying a Lotto ticket, you can bet your ass that the hate for both of them will be so high that not even winning a championship will silence people—but don’t expect either to happen.
[H/T ESPN]