Millions buy tickets for chance at $1 billion jackpot

TAMPA (FOX 13) - 65, 53, 23, 15, 70. Those numbers, combined with the Mega Ball number of 7 is what you need to win the Mega Millions jackpot, estimated at $1 billion. 

This is the largest Mega Millions jackpot in history, and Bay Area gas stations are busy with people buying tickets, hoping to match their numbers to the six lucky ones that were drawn Friday night.

Dreams of becoming a billionaire is on the minds of millions of Americans after the Mega Millions jackpot reached $1 billion early Friday.

"Billion is a pretty big number," Blair Johnson said. "My staff wanted me to buy them some tickets. It's kinda counter intuitive because if they win then I'm out of a staff, but we'll cross that bridge when it comes."

At the Marathon station on Howard in Tampa, cashiers say they've sold thousands of tickets in just a matter of days. If you are the big winner, experts say you might want to call an attorney, like, Jason Kurland.

"The first thing I tell everyone to do is stay quiet," Kurland said. "You don't want to tell the world. You don't want to tell the neighbors. You don't want to tell your family. You don't want to tell your friends. If you have to keep it within the immediate family or spouse you can."

Kurland, nicknamed 'the lottery attorney', currently represents dozens of lottery winners--who've taken home multi-million dollar jackpots. Seven years ago, he got a referral to represent a group who won a major jackpot in Connecticut and since then he's been sought out by jackpot winners.

"Make sure that ticket is signed and secure," Kurland said. "It's called a bearer of instrument. Whoever turns that into the lottery commission is really the winner. So god forbid you loose that ticket and someone else signs it. So you want that thing signed."

After you sign it, Kurland says make a copy of it and store in a secure safety deposit box.

"Limit your exposure in the press," Kurland said. "We can help with financial planners and lay out a budget. It's really good to have someone who can have your back."

If there is no winner in Friday night's drawing, the jackpot will reach $1.6 billion.