WASHINGTON — The fifth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history will be up for grabs Friday night after no one won the grand prize on Christmas Eve.
The prize swelled to an estimated $1.15 billion for Friday's drawing. If won at that level it would be the largest December prize in the lottery game's history.
The jackpot has been growing since Sept. 10, when it was last won at $810 million in Texas. No ticket matched the recent drawing's winning numbers, though Tuesday's drawing produced several million-dollar winners.
Four lottery players are waking up as fresh millionaires on Christmas Day. Tickets sold in California, Pennsylvania, Wyoming and Missouri had all five white ball numbers correct, earning their owners a million dollars.
Only three Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year including a $1.1 billion winning ticket that was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings. The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.
“We know that many people will likely receive tickets to Friday’s drawing as holiday gifts, and what a gift that would turn out to be if you ended up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot,” Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium said in a Wednesday statement.
Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024
The winning numbers for Tuesday's drawing were: 11-14-38-45-46 − 3 MegaBall, with 3x MegaPlier.
When a winner matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out as an annuity over 30 years, or a lump sum cash payout of roughly half the size. Winners almost always take the cash option.
Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings take place Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
Largest Mega Millions jackpots in history
- $1.602 billion - August 8, 2023 - Florida
- $1.537 billion - October 23, 2018 - South Carolina
- $1.348 billion - January 13, 2023 - Maine
- $1.337 billion - July 29, 2022 - Illinois
- $1.150 billion (est) - Dec. 27, 2024
- $1.128 billion - March 26, 2024 - New Jersey
- $1.050 billion - January 22, 2021 - Michigan
- $810 million - September 10, 2024 - Texas
- $656 million - March 30, 2012 - Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
- $648 million - December 17, 2013 - California/Georgia
- $552 million - June 4, 2024 - Illinois