The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to a staggering $1.15 billion after no winning ticket was drawn on Tuesday, making it the largest prize ever offered in the month of December.
This marks the seventh time in the game’s history that the jackpot has surpassed the $1 billion mark. The current estimated jackpot is the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history.
“We know that many people will likely receive tickets to Friday’s drawing as holiday gifts, and what a gift that would turn out to be if you ended up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot,” said Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays – whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, or any other way people choose to celebrate the season – than by helping fulfill the dreams that come with a prize like this and prizes that will be won at all levels of the game.”
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The winning numbers for Tuesday’s drawing were 11, 14, 38, 45, 46 and Mega Ball 3. While no one hit the jackpot, four tickets matched the first five numbers, winning $1 million each. These tickets were sold in California, Missouri, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania.
The last Mega Millions jackpot, worth $810 million, was claimed in August by a Houston-area resident. Since then, the jackpot has been rolling over, generating significant excitement among lottery players.
This year has been unusual for Mega Millions, with only three jackpots won so far, the fewest in a single year since the game began in 2002.
Looking ahead, Mega Millions announced in October that the price of a ticket will increase to $5 starting in April 2025. This change, along with other enhancements, is intended to create larger and more frequent jackpots.
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For now, players across the country are eagerly anticipating Friday’s drawing, hoping to claim the massive $1.15 billion prize. The drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.5 million.
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