Mega Millions has reached an estimated jackpot total of $977 Million after no winning tickets were sold for Tuesday night’s grand prize of around $893 Million and could rise further with ticket purchases for Friday’s drawing.
Tuesday’s jackpot winning numbers were 24, 46, 49, 62 and 66 with an additional Mega Ball number of 7.
Since Dec. 8, there have been 29 drawings since no jackpot winner emerged and only eight jackpot winners remain eligible to claim prize pool winnings.
Friday’s jackpot winner would have the choice between receiving either an immediate lump-sum of approximately $461 Million prior to taxes or opting for an annuity of the full amount spread out over 30 years, each payment made annually.
Mega Millions officials note this is only the sixth time in 22 years that its jackpot has ever reached $977 million, with five prior instances totaling over $1 billion each time it did so.
Mega Millions won its largest-ever jackpot ever when one ticket from Neptune, Florida yielded an amazing prize worth an unprecedented $1.6 billion last August.
U.S. lottery history saw its greatest prize ever with the award of a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot from one ticket sold near Los Angeles in February 2023.
Powerball jackpot has also steadily been growing since New Year’s Day – rising an estimated $687 Million ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing. No winner has emerged since.
Mega Millions drawings take place twice weekly at 11 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays and Fridays; tickets for the drawings can be found for sale across 45 states plus D.C. and U.S. Virgin Islands at $2 each; odds for winning one of its jackpots stand at one in 302,575,350!
