The chances of winning tonight's record-breaking $550 million Powerball jackpot are slim, but New Yorkers are still buying lottery tickets and dreaming.

A single winner choosing the cash payout would take home $360.2 million before taxes.

It is the largest jackpot in Powerball history and New Yorkers who spoke with NY1 had high hopes.

"If I win, I think I'm going to buy a couple of houses, because real estate is a good thing to do," said one lottery player. "I'm going to buy a house in Honolulu, a house in Greece since I'm Greek and a house in North Carolina where I was raised when I was young."

"I would like to give something to the people who have the problem with Sandy, with the storm. I really would like to help whatever I can," said another lottery player.

The drawing is at 11 p.m.

This is the second-highest prize in lottery history, behind the $656 million Mega Millions prize in March.