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  • Mega Millions Jackpot Soars To $321 Million

    The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to a whopping $321 million after no one matched all six numbers during Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 11, 29, 36, 58, and 67 with a Mega Ball of 15.

    As previously reported by WebProNews, the last time the Mega Millions jackpot was won was on August 22 when a California player matched all six numbers to take home the $180 million.

    According to Megamillions.com, this marks only the 10th time in Mega Millions’ 12-year history that the jackpot will surpass the $300 million mark.

    While no one managed to win the jackpot, there were five Match 5 winning tickets sold for the Halloween drawing; one in New York and two each in California and New Jersey. The Match 5 is won when a person matches five numbers but not the Mega Ball. The prize for matching five numbers is $1 million.

    The next drawing will take place on Tuesday, November 4. If someone is lucky enough to match all six numbers, they will have the opportunity to take the cash option of $194 million. If they choose not to take the cash option, they will have the choice to take the annuity option.

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

    Tickets cost $1 each, and drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs To $166 Million

    The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to $166 million after no one matched all six numbers during Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 2, 32, 35, 50, and 59 with a Mega Ball of 3.

    According to Megamillions.com, this marks the third time this year that the jackpot has surpassed $150 million. While no one managed to win the jackpot, there were two lucky winners from California and Ohio that won the Match 5. The Match 5 is won when a person matches five numbers but not the Mega Ball. The prize for matching five numbers is $1 million.

    The last time the jackpot was won was on August 22, 2014 when someone matched all six numbers and won the $180 million jackpot.

    The next drawing will take place on Tuesday, October 14. If a lucky player matches all six numbers they will have the opportunity to take the cash option of $100 million. If they choose not to take the cash option, the player will have the choice of taking the annuity option. According to the game’s official website, “the Mega Millions annuity is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous one.”

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

    Tickets cost $1 each, and drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights.

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs To $83 Million

    The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to a whopping $83 million after no one matched all six numbers during Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 16, 25, 27, 29, and 34 with a Mega Ball of 2.

    This marks the eighth straight drawing without a jackpot winner, and the prize is continuing to inch closer and closer to that $100 million mark. The last time the jackpot reached $100 million was on August 5 after ten consecutive drawings without a winner.

    Although it is purely coincidence, the jackpot has not been won since the multi-state lottery game added its 44th state, Wyoming, to the roster of states who take part in the weekly game.

    The next drawing will take place on Tuesday, September 23. If a lucky player matches all six numbers, they will have the opportunity to take the cash option of $48 million or the annuity option. According to MegaMillions.com, “the Mega Millions annuity is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous one.”

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

    Tickets cost $1 each, and drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights.

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs To $52 Million

    The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to a whopping $52 million after no one managed to match all six numbers on September 9, 2014.

    Tuesday’s winning numbers were 25, 34, 55, 70, 71, with a Mega Ball of 1, a Megaplier of 4, and a jackpot of $41 million.

    The next drawing will take place on Friday, September 12. If someone is lucky enough to match all six numbers on Friday, they will have the opportunity to take the cash option of $30 million.

    If the winner chooses not to take the lump sum, they can choose the annuity option. According to MegaMillions.com, “the Mega Millions annuity is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous one.”

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

    Tickets cost $1 each, and drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights.

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Up To $160 Million

    Mega Millions Jackpot Up To $160 Million

    Right before Christmas last year, the Mega Millions jackpot rose up to a nearly record-setting $648 million, two winners wound up splitting the prize. Then in March of 2014, the Mega Millions jackpot hit $414 million, two other lucky winners chopped that pot. The jackpots since March have not climbed to astronomical heights, however, the $160 million up for grabs tomorrow night isn’t a bad payday.

    After no one hit all five numbers plus the Mega Ball on Friday night, tomorrow night’s jackpot increased from $144 million to $160 million. The cash option will be around $95 million. The current jackpot is a result of no top prize winners for 14 consecutive drawings, dating back to July 1. The Mega Millions runs every Tuesday and Friday night. A minimum of $5 million is added to the kitty every time a drawing results without a big winner.

    Even though a player did not walk away with the jackpot on Friday night, one person did take home $1,000,000. In order to win the cool million, a player must match all five white Mega Million balls. In order to win the whole enchilada, a player must match all five white Mega Millions balls plus the gold Mega Ball.

    Additionally, 38 players matched four of the five numbers and the Mega Ball which earned them $5,000. Of those 38 winners, five were purchased with the Megaplier option (doubles the cash prize), so those five winners took home $10,000 each.

    Friday’s Mega Millions numbers were: 16, 19, 28, 29, and 68. The gold Mega Ball number was 9. The Megaplier number was 2.

    You can buy a Mega Millions ticket in 43 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You do not have to be a resident in one those areas to purchase a ticket. It still only costs a buck to play.

    If you’re feeling lucky, Mega Millions runs every Tuesday and Friday night at 11 pm.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs To $25 Million

    Good news for all you lottery players! The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $25 million!

    The latest drawing took place on July 4 with the winning numbers of 16, 33, 39, 58 and 69 with a Mega Ball of 2 and a Megaplier of 5. Because no one matched all six numbers, the jackpot went from $15 million to $25 million for Tuesday night’s drawing.

    The jackpot is not the only way to win the Mega Millions. The second prize can be won by matching five numbers but not the Mega Ball. The payment for second prize is a flat $1 million before taxes.

    Last week a winning ticket was sold in Moulton, Texas, a town with a population of less than 1,000 and approximately 120 miles west of Houston, at the Moulton Grocery & Market located at 100 S. Lavaca.

    That ticket, which still remains unclaimed, is worth a whopping $33 million, and is the eighth winning jackpot ticket in 2014. When the prize is claimed, the winner will have the option of taking one lump sum of a little more than $19 million.

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $1 each, and drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Won In Texas

    Last year we saw the Mega Millions jackpot climb to hundreds of millions of dollars. However, this year it seems as though the jackpot can’t grow for all the winners out there.

    For the 8th time in 2014, the Mega Millions jackpot has been won. On Friday, June 27, a winning Mega Millions ticket was sold in the small town of Moulton, Texas, a town with a population of less than 1,000 and approximately 120 miles west of Houston, at the Moulton Grocery & Market located at 100 S. Lavaca.

    “If you purchased a Mega Millions ticket in Moulton, check your numbers because you might be a millionaire,” said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery.

    The jackpot had reached $33 million. If the person who purchased the winning ticket opts to take the cash option in one lump sum, they will receive a little more than $19 million after taxes. Friday’s winning numbers were 15,29, 31, 46 and 64 with a Mega Ball of 10.

    The jackpot reset to $15 million for Tuesday’s drawing, which would leave the winner $8 million to take as a lump sum.

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $1 each, and drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $132 Million

    Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $132 Million

    For all of you lottery players … make sure that you purchase your Powerball ticket for the Saturday night drawing.

    After rolling over eight times since April 26, 2014, the jackpot has grown to a whopping $132 million!

    If you happen to be the lucky one to match all six numbers, you will have two choices in how you would like to receive your money. You can receive the full jackpot in 29 years through 30 graduated payments, or you can choose to take the lump sum, as a one-time payout, of approximately $78 million.

    For those of you who have never played the popular Powerball game, here is how … tickets cost $2 each, and the drawing occurs every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Players choose six numbers; five from a pool of 59 white balls, and one from a pool of 35 red Powerball balls. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls, in any order, and the Powerball.

    Luckily, because the odds are 1 in 175,223,510.00 that the jackpot will be won, there are eight other ways to win. If you match all five white numbers, you will be taking home $1 million. Four white balls with the Powerball will land you $10,000, and matching four white balls without the Powerball will get you $100. Click here for the other ways to win.

    The Powerball is played in 43 States, Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands.

    Image via Powerball.com, Powerball.com

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Claimed By Florida Couple

    A Florida couple is calling their Mega Millions win an “incredible blessing.”

    Raymond Moyer, 35, and Robyn Collier, 35, purchased their Mega Millions ticket at Publix grocery store on Merritt Island, Florida on March 18. Little did they know that they would be waking up millionaires. The couple matched all six numbers, 11, 19, 24, 33, 51, and Mega Ball 7, winning them half of the Mega Millions jackpot; a whopping $207 million.

    It wasn’t until the couple saw the numbers on the news that they realized they indeed had the winning ticket. Collier explained that when she saw the numbers she paused the television and proceeded to check their ticket. “I paused the TV and ran to get the ticket to double-check the numbers,” Collier said. “And when I realized they all matched, I jumped off the couch in excitement and told Raymond we had won.” Moyer was still skeptical until he saw Publix grocery on the news.

    “It was definitely a shock, but it is an incredible blessing that will allow us to do many things we would not have had the opportunity to do before,” Moyer said. They revealed that they play on doing some investing, a lot of traveling, and attending as many Notre Dame games as possible.

    The second winning ticket was sold in Maryland at Lady’s Liquor in La Plata. So far, no one has come forward to claim their prize. However, the ticket holder has 180 days from the day of the drawing to claim their prize.

    Mega Millions is currently played in 43 states, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held on Tuesday and Friday nights, and tickets cost $1 each.

    Image via Twitter

  • Mega Millions Winners in Florida Claim $207 Million

    A central Florida man and woman have stepped forward to claim their half of the $414 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot on Tuesday.

    Raymond Moyer and Robyn Collier, both 35, claimed $207 million in winnings from the Florida Lottery, and opted for a one-time, lump-sum payout of roughly $115.5 million. A check dated for April 21 was made out to the Cobie and Seamus Trust, which Moyer and Collier are members of.

    The golden Quick Pick ticket for the March 18 drawing was bought at a Publix grocery store on Merritt Island. Florida Lottery officials stated Publix will receive a $100,000 cut for selling the ticket. The $414 million jackpot is the third largest in the history of the game, and a second winning ticket was purchased in Maryland, though has not yet been claimed.

    Collier said that she wasn’t aware that she and Moyer were winners, until the numbers came up on the local news. Moyer commented, “It was definitely a shock, but it is an incredible blessing that will allow us to do many things we would not have had the opportunity to do before.”

    Non-winners took to Twitter to explain what they might do if they were winners:

    The two plan to invest the money, travel and attend Notre Dame football games. Though, not all lottery winners are equipped to handle such prompt reversal of fortune. There have been numerous instances describing the pitfalls of instant wealth.

    Kenneth and Connie Parker were winners of a $25 million jackpot, and abruptly ended their 16-year marriage within months. Jeffrey Dampier was kidnapped and murdered by his sister-in-law, after winning $20 million. Jack Whittaker won the largest individual payout in U.S. lottery history in 2002, only to have his granddaughter overdose on drugs and have numerous brushes with the law. Hurley from ABC’s cult classic LOST entered a world of pain after hitting a jackpot.

    It would appear to be wise to never tell anyone you’ve won (if the state where the ticket was purchased allows this; few do), and perhaps exact a more complex plan than eternal recreation.

    Image via YouTube

  • Powerball Jackpot Won In Florida

    And we have a winner!

    One person matched all six numbers to win the $150 million Powerball jackpot on April 23, 2014. The winner will have the option of taking the payment in one lump sum totaling $87.6 million.

    The ticket, with the numbers 19-25-29-36-48, Powerball 12, and Power Play 4, was sold at E’s Country Store North, 14344 Immokalee Road, Naples, Florida, and was chosen by the quick pick method. Florida currently has the record for the most Powerball jackpot winners in the country, with last night’s making number eight.

    The Powerball jackpot has been rolling over since March 22. The next drawing will be held on April 26, and the jackpot will roll back over to $40 million.

    Several other people came close to winning the jackpot, but were short by one number. A ticket, purchased in Indiana, matched five numbers and the power play winning $2 million. Three other tickets matched five numbers with no power play and won $1 million. Those tickets were sold in California, Colorado, and Maryland.

    The popular lottery game is currently played in 43 States, Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands. Tickets cost two dollars a piece, and the drawings take place on Wednesday and Saturday nights. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 175,223,510. If someone is lucky enough to land a winning ticket, they will have 180 days to claim their prize.

    Image via Facebook

  • Mega Millions Jackpot To Be Split Between 2 Winners

    It looks like the Mega Millions jackpot will not be rolling over anymore, as two lucky people were able to match all six numbers last night, making them the United State’s newest millionaires. The winning numbers were 11-19-24-33-51, and the Mega Ball was 7.

    The winners, from Florida and Maryland, will get to split the $400 million jackpot, the third largest in the multi-state lottery game’s history. The cash option was estimated to be $224 million, a very nice chunk of change if you ask me. The jackpot had been rolling over since January 3, after millions of people failed to match all six numbers week after week.

    Florida lottery officials confirmed, on Wednesday, that a winning ticket was sold in Brevard County, Florida at a Sonoco gas station located at 600 South Courtenay Parkway in Merritt Island. The gas station will receive a cash prize, as well, for selling the ticket. Florida is the newest state to take part in the game, and officially started selling tickets in May. This makes the first Mega Millions jackpot to be won in Florida.

    Along with the two jackpot winners, there were eight $1 million Match 5 winners across the US. The jackpot will reset to $15 million for the next drawing that will take place on Friday, March 21. Tickets cost $1 each, and are sold in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

    Image via Twitter

  • Mega Milllions Jackpot Hits $400 Million

    Here we go again.

    After a Mega Millions jackpot grew to near-record setting $648 million in December, before two lucky winners split the cash, there haven’t been too many enormous jackpots. Now after weeks without a winner, the current jackpot is at $400 million, which is good enough to be the sixth largest prize ever in lottery history.

    The next chance to be a mega-millionaire will be on Tuesday night. The drawing is scheduled for 11 pm ET. A winner can also choose the cash option which comes out to a cool $224.8 million. Mega Millions is played in 43 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.

    A ticket to dream still only costs a buck.

    It’s a simple game. A player picks five numbers from 1 to 75. Then they choose another number, the Mega Millions number, which ranges from 1 to 15. They need to match all six numbers to win. The odds of winning the big money are 1 in 259 million. However, a player can win different prize amounts. For example, a player who matches all five numbers but not the Mega Millions number wins $1,000,000. If no one wins the jackpot, another $5,000,000 (at least) is added to the big prize money and a new jackpot rolls. Mega Millions drawings run Tuesdays and Fridays every week at 11 pm ET.

    The biggest Mega Millions payday in history occurred in 2012. The jackpot swelled to $656 million and was ultimately divided among three very lucky winners.

    Will you be playing Mega Millions on Tuesday?

    Image via Pennsylvania Lottery, Twitter

  • Powerball Winner: Good Reasons To Stay Unknown

    Days after the winning numbers were announced in the $425 million Powerball jackpot, the lone winner has yet to make his or herself known.

    Some are wondering if the individual is even aware that they have a winning ticket. God forbid they accidentally threw it away!

    Many lottery participants dream of standing on a stage with a big old smile on their face as they hold a giant check for a huge amount of cash. It could be that the presently unknown winner has no such ambition. They may even lack a desire to rush to claim their prize.

    Not rushing to claim a huge jackpot prize might actually be the smartest thing a person could do.

    First, for all the glitz and glamour of winning the lottery, it is an existence that is filled with tragedy. Some jackpot winners wind up worse off financially than when they started and a number of past winners or their families come to regret the “magic ticket” ever finding its way into their lives.

    Second, the above is usually what happens to those star-struck winners who leap head first without stopping to look ahead or plan.

    Going from living paycheck to paycheck to a hundred million dollar existence is quite a leap. A person has to know what they intend to do. “Go shopping” seems like an obvious answer, but it’s hardly the only answer or most sensible.

    Lottery winners are advised to stop and take the time to plan out what their future life will be like, get reliable financial advice, and avoid a life of massive spending sprees.

    The need for calm and sensibility is another reason to stay anonymous. After all, once everyone who ever knew you becomes aware that you are suddenly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, they will be more eager than you to spend your lottery prize.

    This is why individuals are often encouraged to accept their prize as anonymous and quietly move on with their lives…and let as few people in on this brave new world of theirs as possible.

    One can only hope these thoughts have crossed the mind of California’s newest mega millionaire. Otherwise a few years from now, we’ll be reading about yet another jackpot win gone horribly wrong.

    Image via YouTube

  • Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $194 Million

    The winning numbers for the Powerball drawing on January 29th were 11, 23, 28, 32, and 47; the Powerball number was 20. The Power Play number was 2.

    There were no winners of the $171 million Powerball jackpot prize. As the winning numbers continue to elude eager participants, the jackpot continues to grow.

    Not everyone walked away empty handed, as winnings for the last drawing totaled roughly $8.66 million. There were 592,462 winners in all.

    The latest failure to claim the major prize resulted in the lottery jackpot increasing to an impressive $194 million. The cash value of the jackpot for those seeking a lump sum would be $110.7 million before taxes.

    If the huge jackpot alone isn’t enough to lure participants, the recent return of the Power Play multiplier might entice individuals to try their luck. The multiplier option is an additional $1, but instead of simply doubling one’s winnings, participants who use the multiplier have the chance to multiply their winnings as much as five times.

    The exceptions are of course anyone who wins the jackpot as well as anyone who wins the $1 million for matching five numbers but missing the Power Ball. The second largest prize can only be doubled to $2 million. With rule changes occurring all the time, eventually this may change as well.

    At the same time, it’s hard to imagine anyone so disappointed with losing out on the big prize that they would turn down hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention a chance to pocket more than a million in cash. In the end, winning big is relative.

    The larger the jackpot becomes, and it is already just shy of $200 million, the more hype surrounds it and the more excited potential winners become. Expect the jackpot to balloon significantly as more and more people participate—That is if we have no winners in the coming weeks.

    Meanwhile the Mega Millions jackpot continues to climb. though it hasn’t reached the exciting nine figure stage yet. At present, it’s worth $84 million in annuity payments, with a cash option of $46 million.

    Image via ABC News Youtube

  • Powerball Increases To $152 Million

    Powerball Increases To $152 Million

    There was no winner in the January 22nd Powerball drawing and so the amount at stake for the next jackpot drawing has gone up. The annuity value of the January 25th drawing has climbed to $152 million. The one-time payout option would be worth $85.6 million (before taxes) should a lucky individual pick the winning numbers on Saturday.

    When the Powerball climbs to over a hundred million, this is usually when the clamor begins, which means that each jackpot where there fails to see a winner will serve to only massively increase the money on the line for future drawings.

    As for the previous drawing, though no one claimed the millions, three individuals came closer than anyone. Three Powerball tickets were sold in California, Indiana and New York that matched five numbers, but missed the Powerball. As each ticket is worth $1,000,000, it’s hard to consider the near-miss a total bummer. This even as the million dollar tickets from the very jackpot where the Powerplay Multiplier was re-introduced. This meant the lucky winners could have doubled their winnings if they’d spent a single dollar more on the winning ticket. Oh well. It’s doubtful they’ll take time to care between all the backflips and moon-walking.

    According to an announcement by Hoosier Lottery, there were four $10,000 Powerball tickets sold in Indiana, specifically in the cities of Yorktown, Elwood and Mishawaka and Bluffton.

    Even though the Powerball jackpot is already over a hundred million, the Mega Millions hasn’t gotten there yet. The next drawing will be Friday, January 24th and the jackpot value will be $62 million. The pre-taxes lump sum option will be $33.7 million.

    When and where will the winning tickets be sold? Anyone’s guess as always, but just as the last major jackpots occurred around Christmas, maybe it’s in the cards that the jackpots will see winners around Valentines Day?

    Image via ABC News Youtube

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Nearing All-Time Record

    It really doesn’t matter that a player’s chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is only about 1 in 259 million. We love the rush, we love the fantasy, we love that it only costs a measly buck to have an opportunity to win more money than a person can ever imagine. So, we put the odds aside. We let our spirits soar, and allow the dream for a miracle to consume us.

    What would I do with $636 million? That is the question that millions of hopefuls are asking today. Right now, over $75 million tickets have been sold, and there are still several hours before the 11 pm EST drawing.

    Tonight’s drawing represents the second largest jackpot in the history of the US lottery. The biggest prize ever was $656 million, so we’re only $20 million away from record setting numbers. If no one hits the big money tonight, Friday’s jackpot will be about $950 million. And if nobody hits that, we’re looking at a payday of over $1 billion.

    Some people are already planning to quit their jobs:

    Paula Ott, who is the lottery director in Virginia and the head of the Mega Millions, estimates that ticket sales were up by about 20 percent over the weekend. “If it doesn’t surpass the record, we’ll be close. It’s growing a little faster than we thought.” The more tickets sold, the better the odds a person will win the jackpot. By the drawing time tonight, Ott thinks that about 65 to 75 percent of all possible number combinations will be covered.

    The Mega Millions drawing runs every Tuesday and Friday night. Tickets cost just a $1. A player needs to match all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in order to win the jackpot. A player can choose to take the cash option prize as well, tonight’s is currently estimated around $314 million.

    Tell us what you think. What would you do with $636 million?

    Image Via Twitter

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Skyrockets to $636M, the Odds are Slim

    Tonight is the night of one of the largest drawings in U.S. lottery history.  The Mega Millions Jackpot is now more than half a million, with 75 million tickets already sold.

    The chances of a winner have been said to now be even slimmer and recently there hasn’t been any winners yet, especially since Mega Millions lottery officials have changed the rules.

    Ticket sales have also increased and will continue to increase this evening.

    According to a CBS News report “ Odds of winning the jackpot used to be 1 in 176 million. This past October, those odds changed to 1 in 259 million. Players used to have to pick six numbers from 1 to 56, but now it’s 1 to 75. “

     

    Tuesday’s drawing will be the fourth largest compared to its predecessors like the $656M Mega Millions in March 2012.

    Yesterday, the cash prize was a at $586 million.

    Executive director of the Virginia Lottery and lead director for Mega Millions, Paula Otto, predicts the jackpot could very well break the $656M record and reach $1 billion by Christmas.

    Due to late lottery purchases, Otto believes that her team would have to reassess the sales before tonight’s drawing and this will guarantee a growth in numbers.

    “Lotto players are procrastinators. They tend to buy on the day of the draw,” she said.

    Although it seems as though  the chance of winning isn’t on everyone’s side, some lottery players still see some hope in playing.

    “I’m playing!” said Facebook user Artist Daniel. “I normally never play but when that much money is out there, why not take a chance?”

    So, what would do with your money if you won? Hopefully something rewarding.

     Image via Youtube, FOX10 News-WALA

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $550 Million

    It was Friday the 13th, yet superstition did not deter droves of people looking for a $425 million payout playing Mega Millions. Unfortunately, no one claimed the monster jackpot. Fortunately, players will get another chance on Tuesday when the payday jumps to a whopping $550 million. That prize will be the fourth biggest in lottery history.

    And if $550 million isn’t enough incentive to play, according to Paula Ott, executive and Mega Millions lead director, the jackpot could reach astronomical heights. “We’ve never had a jackpot at this level in December leading into the holidays. If we keep rolling, we could well be at a billion dollars going into Christmas.”

    In order for a player to win the Mega Millions jackpot, they must match all five numbers and the Mega Ball. The winning numbers from Friday’s drawing were: 19, 24, 26, 27, 70, Mega Ball 12. Even though nobody hit the big money, nine lucky players each took home a cool $1 million for getting the first five numbers correct (they didn’t hit the Mega Ball number).

    In case you’re considering buying a ticket for Tuesday’s drawing, the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 259 million. The cost of the ticket-to-dream is just a buck. The Mega Millions drawing takes place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 pm EST.

    Image Via Twitter

  • Mega Millions Rises To Over $500 Million

    Mega Millions Rises To Over $500 Million

    Didn’t get a lottery ticket ahead of the drawing? Well if you were hoping against all hope for another chance to win big, you’ve got it. According to lottery officials, no winning Mega Million tickets were sold for the $425 million jackpot. This sends the current annuity value to $550 million dollars. If an individual were lucky enough to draw the winning numbers, they would have a whopping $295.3 million dollars to themselves before taxes. And even after taxes, it would be safe to say that life wouldn’t be the same.

    The absence of a winner means this newest Mega Millions jackpot would be the fourth largest jackpot ever won. It would be the second largest Mega Millions jackpot, as the largest went for $656 million.

    The possibility has sent would-be winners scrambling for a ticket. Paula Otto, the Mega Millions’ lead director, has said that there’s a chance that the huge amount of money on the line could possibly double in the near future if there are no winners.

    “We’ve never had a jackpot at this level in December leading into the holidays. If we keep rolling, we could well be at a billion dollars going into Christmas.”

    Before you make plans to buy your own country, it’s good to remember that while everyone’s odds are roughly the same, the odds of buying a winning ticket are still pretty slim: 1 in 258,900,000.

    For a point of reference, the odds of an American being struck by lightning is about 1 in 700,000. You have a better chance of being fried to a crisp over the course of your life than winning the lottery. You have even better odds of getting injured by a toilet. You also have better odds of dying in a surprise shark attack.

    Terrible odds or not, the jackpot always inspires Americans to dream big and spend big. Otto says that the previous jackpot saw over $167 million in ticket sales. No doubt this may improve ahead of the Tuesday drawing.

    What should someone do if they find out they just became insanely rich? There are certain steps you should (and shouldn’t) take. Hopefully the winner isn’t too flabberghasted to make the most of a Christmas miracle.

    Image: Kxan Youtube

  • Mega Millions Jackpot Soars To $400 Million

    The Mega Millions jackpot just keeps growing. After no one matched all six numbers (5, 12, 22, 41, 65, and mega ball 13) during last night’s drawing estimated at $344 million, the jackpot has soared to a whopping $400 million.

    Five lucky players, two in Ohio and one each in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, matched five numbers, but failed to match the mega ball number of 13. Those players won $1 million each.

    It has been two months since anyone has won the jackpot, which is why the amount has increased so much. If one single player were to match all six numbers during Friday’s drawing and chooses the cash payout, they would receive one lump sum of $216 million before taxes.

    The current jackpot is the fourth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history and the second largest jackpot since the largest jackpot was won on March 30, 2012. The winners of the March 2012 drawing, from Maryland, Kansas and Illinois, spilt $656 million.

    Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs one dollar. The next drawing will be held on Friday, December 13.

    Image via Twitter