BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A million dollars is a lot of money — but try $900 million. That’s how much is at stake for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing.

“I think there is a lot of people that need help that we can use this money to provide some help to them,” said Bakersfield resident George Samaan.

Tuesday’s drawing is the eighth largest in Mega Millions history. The largest was a whopping $1.6 billion back in 2023.

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Some Bakersfield residents shared the first things they would do if they won.

“Honestly, that’s a lot of money,” said 18-year-old Parneet Kaur. “But I would definitely start off by retiring my parents and just like, settling in. And then I would probably invest a lot of it so that it’s like generational wealth rather than just me spending it all in, you know, my lifetime.”

“For my kids’ education, maybe to buy a nicer house to live in another area, like maybe close to the beach,” Samaan said.

George Samaan’s two young children both wanted to be in on the fun.

“I’ll buy a golden airplane,” said Peila Samaan.

“A golden airplane? Where would you fly to?” 17’s Vincent Demonte asked.

“Uh, Hawaii,” Peila said.

Luke Samaan also shared what he would buy with the money.

“A golden Lamborghini,” Luke said. “And, uh, golden toys and, uh, a golden house and a diamond.”

“Do you think you’re ready to drive a golden Lamborghini?” Demonte asked.

“Yeah!”

The community also shared some words of advice for the eventual winner.

“I look at it this way. If you have a dollar, you should be able to give a dollar,” said Daniel Lovato, a Bakersfield visitor. “So if you have $1 billion, be able to give $1 billion, right? And that’s how I look at it. So it all depends on what your needs are.”

“Definitely think of others, too,” Kaur said. “Like, you got lucky, that’s good for you. But put some of it to good causes. Help the world out, you know, don’t be selfish.”

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Kaur said she felt this interview might have been the sign she needed to get that first lottery ticket.

“Maybe I should, maybe I should. I just turned 18 this year, so maybe it’s my lucky year,” she said.

The drawing will be held Tuesday night at 8 p.m. If no winners are selected, the next drawing will be held on Friday.

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