The Mega Millions jackpot has soared to an astounding $1.05 billion, marking only the fifth time in the game’s history that the grand prize has surpassed the billion-dollar mark.
Despite the immense excitement, no lucky individual managed to beat the monumental odds and match all six numbers for Friday’s estimated $940 million jackpot. The numbers drawn for that round were 5, 10, 28, 52, 63, with the gold ball number being 18.
Since the last grand prize ticket was claimed on April 18, there have been a staggering 29 consecutive draws without a Mega Millions jackpot winner.
If a sole winner chooses to be paid through an annuity over 30 years, they will have a shot at claiming the staggering $1.05 billion prize in the upcoming Tuesday night draw. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that most jackpot winners typically opt for a lump sum payment. For Tuesday’s drawing, this lump sum is estimated to be a significant $527.9 million.
Adding to the thrill, Mega Millions revealed that this potential jackpot is the fourth-largest in the game’s history and marks the fifth occasion where the grand prize has surpassed $1 billion.
While there were no jackpot winners in Friday’s draw, players in Pennsylvania had something to celebrate with one ticket worth $5 million and another ticket in the same state earning $1 million. Additionally, there were $1 million winners in Arizona, California, and New York, as announced by Mega Millions.
It has been less than two weeks since an anonymous individual in Los Angeles claimed a staggering $1.08 billion Powerball prize – making it the sixth-largest in U.S. history.
The reason lottery jackpots grow to such astronomical amounts is due to the incredibly slim odds of winning. In fact, the chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a mere 1 in 302.6 million.
It is important to note that winners will be subject to federal taxes, and depending on the state, they may face additional taxes on their lottery winnings.
Mega Millions is widely played across 45 states, including Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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