Katie Kearns said she plans to permanently retire if she winds up with the winning Mega Millions lottery ticket tonight.

"I'd probably buy a little place and never work again," the Dish Network employee said.

The Mega Millions multi-state lottery game is sporting a huge jackpot for New Year's Eve.

After Tuesday's $200 million drawing went without a top winner, the prize swelled to $237 million.

The drawing takes place at 11 p.m. each Tuesday and Friday.

The jackpot has received a lot of attention this week, as it has been more than seven months since the lottery jackpot was this large.

Kimberly Starks, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Lottery, said the chance of winning the Mega Millions drawing, which includes one gold ball and five white balls, is about 1 in 175 million.

But the odds haven't prevented Hall County residents from investing in a ticket.

"I have one in my pocket right now," Joey Summer, 50, said.

Summer said he imagines he would invest half of the winnings in conservative, high-dividend stocks.

He added that the pile of cash would also allow him to give back.

"I think I'd have a contest every year and people would explain why they needed it the most. There would be a panel of judges," he said.

Derrick Gaddis, 30, said his dream is to build a house on a plot of land his grandparents gave him in Dahlonega. But he doesn't believe an early retirement would be very appealing.

"I think I'd get bored. I'd have to find something to occupy my time," he said.

Paying off debt and buying a house were on the top of Amanda McGee's list.

The Gainesville resident said she wouldn't stray far from the area.

"If I could find a way, I'd change the weather though. I don't want to leave, but I want San Diego weather," she said.

McGee added that she wouldn't feel too concerned about the so-called "lottery curse."

Some say divorce, bankruptcy and even kidnapping has followed some past lottery winners.

"People can let it ruin their lives, but you can't let it change you," McGee said.

Edgar Martin Cruz, 21, said he'd probably hire some security with his winnings.

He'd also like to start his own landscaping business and travel the world a few times.

"I'm not sure where I'd go. But if you win the lottery, where can't you go?" he said.

Not everyone said they would pursue a life of excess.

Professional photographer Jessica Tanner said she would build a photo studio. "I would just do photography for fun and live a normal life, nothing crazy," she said.

Starks said pre-tax winnings would amount to $9.1 million annually for the next 26 years. If the winner chooses the cash option, the prize would be worth $150 million after taxes.

Another month needs to pass before it can approach the $390 million record set in 2007, which was split between two people.

Eddie Nabors of Dalton shared the top prize with someone who chose the same numbers in New Jersey.