The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $1,280,000,000 billion, the second largest top prize in the game’s 25-year history and the third largest of all US lotteries.
For as little as $2 a ticket, people may be tempted to bet their luck — but according to Mega Millions, there’s about a one in 303 million chance of winning when the lucky numbers are drawn Friday night at 11pm EST.
The current jackpot started in April, and while a few people nearly took home the prize, no one has been able to match all six numbers of the game.
Only players who receive their winnings through an annuity, which is paid annually over 29 years, will receive a total of $1.28 billion. Nearly all winners of the game accept the prize in cash, which would equate to a still massive $742.2 million for Friday.
Currently, the record jackpot for Mega Millions is $1,537 billion, which was won in 2018. That winning ticket was sold in South Carolina and is the largest lottery prize ever won on a single ticket in the entire world.
The largest jackpot of all US lotteries was won in 2016 and divided among the winners in California, Florida and Tennessee. That Powerball game was worth a whopping $1.586 billion.
Mega Millions jackpots start at $20 million and get bigger depending on game sales and interest rates. Four Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year in California, New York, Minnesota and Tennessee.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each ticket remains in the state where the ticket is sold, and with larger top prizes, state officials want to receive more money for their causes.
Earlier this week, the fast food chain Raising Canes went viral after founder bought 50,000 Mega Millions tickets — one for each of the company’s employees.
At the time of the purchase, the jackpot total was only $810 million, but the company was not successful. As the grand prize grew in size, the restaurant’s management decided to purchase staff tickets again for Friday night’s draw.
If Raising Cane’s won the jackpot cash-out option, the company’s employees would receive nearly $13,000 each, according to the Washington Post.
Six winning numbers will be drawn Friday at 11pm EST.
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