Officials have announced an exciting update to the Mega Millions jackpot for this Friday night, estimating it to be a whopping $1.35 billion.
This massive prize has now secured its place as one of the top lottery prizes in U.S. history, sharing the fourth-largest position.
The winning combination drawn for Friday’s event are as follows: 11, 30, 45, 52, 56, and the Megaball number 20, accompanied by a Megaplier of 2X.
The enthusiasm surrounding this event is palpable, with an impressive 4.1 million tickets already purchased by eager players throughout Michigan. Today alone, over 2.6 million tickets were snapped up.
The numbers speak for themselves – an astonishing average of about 161,000 Mega Millions tickets were bought per hour, translating to a mind-boggling 2,700 tickets per minute at retail locations.
Should luck favor a player and they clinch the Mega Millions jackpot tonight, it would stand as the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won.
The reigning record for the highest Mega Millions jackpot remains at $1.537 billion, secured by a fortunate player in South Carolina back in October 2018.
The most recent Mega Millions jackpot victory dates back to April, when a New York resident scored a $20 million win by matching all five white balls and the Mega ball.
Participation comes at an affordable cost, with Mega Millions tickets priced at $2 per play. The allure of this game lies in its nine different ways to win various prizes, ranging from the grand jackpot to smaller rewards as low as $2.
Players have the exciting task of selecting six numbers from two distinct pools: five numbers from the white balls set numbered 1-70, and a single number from the gold balls set numbered 1-25.
Here’s a breakdown of the prize tiers:
Match Five white balls + one gold ball to seize the Jackpot.
Match Five white balls to secure a cool $1 million.
Match Four white balls + one gold ball for a $10,000 prize.
Match Four white balls for a $500 reward.
Match Three white balls + one gold ball for a $200 payout.
Match Three white balls for a $10 win.
Match Two white balls + one gold ball to pocket $10.
Match One white ball + one gold ball for a $4 prize.
Match One gold ball to attain $2.
For those feeling lucky, you have the choice to manually select your fortunate numbers or take advantage of the Easy Pick or Quick Pick options, which generate numbers automatically.
Indecisive? Not a problem – the Mega Millions website offers a handy random number generator to assist you.
It’s important to note that a substantial portion of the winnings will be allocated towards federal taxes, and specific states also impose their own taxes on lottery windfalls.
Excitingly, Mega Millions is accessible across a wide geographical range, including 45 states, Washington, D.C., and even the U.S. Virgin Islands.
So, if you’re in one of these locations, you have a chance to join in on the exhilarating Mega Millions action.
