The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an impressive $1.15 billion following the Christmas Eve drawing, marking the fifth-largest prize in the game’s history.
No one matched all six numbers in the latest drawing, which included the numbers 11, 14, 38, 45, 46, and the Mega Ball 3, prompting the increase in the jackpot.
This extraordinary prize has been growing since September 10, when a Texas resident claimed the $810 million jackpot. Despite significant interest, no one has won the top prize in the subsequent 29 drawings, fueling the growth of the jackpot. The next drawing is scheduled for Friday, with the cash option estimated at $516.1 million.
The jackpot’s current size makes it the largest Mega Millions prize ever offered in December. If won, it would become the seventh billion-dollar jackpot in the game’s history. Previous billion-dollar wins include notable prizes in South Carolina (2018), Michigan (2021), Illinois (2022), Maine (2023), Florida (2023), and New Jersey (2024).
Lottery players across the country are gearing up for Friday’s drawing, especially given the tradition of gift-giving during the holiday season. Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, noted that many people will likely receive tickets as gifts, creating a wave of anticipation around the potential life-changing prize.
In addition to the grand prize, four lucky players matched five white balls during the Christmas Eve drawing, winning $1 million each. These tickets were sold in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, though they missed the crucial Mega Ball.
With the Mega Millions jackpot now at $1.15 billion, Friday’s drawing represents a significant opportunity for players. If someone is fortunate enough to win, they will join an elite group of individuals who have experienced the extraordinary luck of claiming a billion-dollar prize.
It’s important to note that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, a factor that makes these massive prizes particularly elusive. However, the allure of such life-altering sums continues to captivate millions of participants across 45 states, Washington D.C., and the US Virgin Islands, all of whom eagerly await the next drawing.
In a related development, Mega Millions plans to raise ticket prices from $2 to $5 starting in April 2025, aiming to offer larger jackpots, more frequent wins, and improved odds. This price hike, along with other enhancements, is designed to generate even more excitement around the game, creating potentially even bigger jackpots in the future.
With input from CNN, New York Post, ABC News, and CBS News.
