BOSTON — The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to an estimated $800 million with a cash option of $401.8 million for Tuesday’s drawing after no one matched all the winning numbers for Friday night’s drawing.
The jackpot was last won in Illinois on June 4 with a ticket valued at $552 million.
Only two Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year. Before the Illinois winning ticket, a $1.1 billion winning ticket was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings.
Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are conducted at 11 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets are $2 each. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each Mega Millions ticket remains in the state where the ticket was sold.
The odds of winning the jackpot are one in more than 302 million. The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.
The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.
The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an incredible estimated $800 million, making it one of the largest jackpots in the history of the game. As excitement and anticipation build, people across the country are rushing to purchase their tickets in hopes of becoming the next big winner.
The Mega Millions lottery is a multi-state lottery game that is played in 44 states, as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players select five numbers from a pool of 70, as well as one Mega Ball number from a pool of 25. To win the jackpot, a player must match all six numbers drawn during the bi-weekly drawing.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are slim, with a 1 in 302.6 million chance of hitting the jackpot. Despite these long odds, the allure of a life-changing sum of money is enough to keep players coming back for more.
If there is no winner in the upcoming drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow, potentially reaching even higher amounts. The largest Mega Millions jackpot in history was $1.537 billion, which was won by a single ticket holder in South Carolina in October 2018.
For those lucky enough to win the jackpot, there are important decisions to be made. Winners can choose to receive their prize as a lump sum payment or as an annuity paid out over 30 years. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so winners should carefully consider their financial goals and consult with a financial advisor before making a decision.
While the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot may be slim, the excitement and thrill of playing for a chance at such a massive prize is enough to keep players coming back for more. As the jackpot continues to climb, more and more people are joining in on the fun and dreaming of what they would do with such a life-changing sum of money. Who will be the lucky winner of the $800 million jackpot? Only time will tell.
