Mega Millions Jackpot Skyrockets to $1.15 Billion for Friday’s Drawing

The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to a staggering $1.15 billion, promising the possibility of a life-changing gift for a lucky winner or winners this holiday season. The next drawing is scheduled for Friday, December 27.

• Ticket Cost: $2 per ticket.

• Odds of Winning the Jackpot: 1 in 302,575,350.

• Odds of Winning Any Prize: 1 in 24.

• Where to Play: Tickets are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The jackpot has been steadily increasing since September 10, when a Texas ticket holder claimed an $810 million prize. The Christmas Eve drawing, which reached $1 billion, saw no jackpot winners, but four players from California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming won $1 million each by matching five numbers.

The current jackpot is on track to join the ranks of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history. Here’s how it stacks up against other record-breaking jackpots:

• $2.04 billion: Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022 (one ticket, California).

• $1.765 billion: Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023 (one ticket, California).

• $1.602 billion: Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (one ticket, Florida).

• $1.586 billion: Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, California, Florida, Tennessee).

• $1.537 billion: Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, South Carolina).

The lump-sum cash payout for Friday’s jackpot is estimated at $448.8 million after taxes, according to USA Today.

With the odds of winning so slim, many Americans view the Mega Millions as an opportunity to dream of a brighter future. Whether it's funding a philanthropic cause, securing generational wealth, or taking the ultimate dream vacation, the possibilities are as endless as the odds are long.

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