News writer, Interviewer
The Mega Millions jackpot has skyrocketed to a staggering $535 million ahead of Friday night's drawing.
It's been a lucky year for Mega Millions players, with two jackpot wins already in 2024. One lucky winner in March took home a massive $1.128 billion, followed by another jackpot win in June worth $552 million.
How to play Mega Millions
Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 10 p.m. CT. To win the jackpot, you must match all six numbers drawn: five balls numbered 1 to 70, and one ball numbered 1 to 25. If you're lucky enough to hit the jackpot, you have 180 days to claim your prize. And if more than one player holds a winning ticket, the jackpot is split evenly among them.
The jackpot resets to $20 million after each win. Ticket sales cut off at 9:45 p.m. CT on the night of the drawing, and tickets cost $2 per play.
For an extra $1, you can purchase the Megaplier option, which can multiply your non-jackpot winnings by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times.
While there's no guaranteed way to win the Mega Millions jackpot, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances:
- Play regularly: The more you play, the more opportunities you'll have to win.
- Use a lottery wheel: A lottery wheel can help you generate a larger number of combinations.
- Join a lottery pool: Pooling your resources with other players can increase your chances of winning a large jackpot.
Enjoy playing Mega Millions, and please play responsibly.
Millionaires made
This year has been a lucky one for Mega Millions players. In June, a lucky Illinois iLottery winner claimed a $552 million jackpot, the largest ever won through iLottery in U.S. history.
And in California, two jackpot-winning tickets were sold at the same Chevron gas station, resulting in a record-breaking bonus check for the retailer.
A look back at previous winners
Mega Millions has produced several massive jackpot winners over the years. Here are some of the most notable:
- $1.602 billion (August 2023): A single winning ticket was sold in Florida, claiming the largest Mega Millions jackpot in history.
- $1.537 billion (October 2018): An anonymous player in South Carolina won this massive jackpot.
- $1.348 billion (January 2023): A lucky winner in Maine took home this prize.
- $1.337 billion (July 2022): A ticket purchased in Illinois won this jackpot.
- $1.128 billion (March 2024): A New Jersey resident claimed this jackpot.
Other mega wins
In addition to the massive jackpots, Mega Millions has also produced numerous other large winners. For example, in 2019, a group of office pool players in California won $543 million. And in 2018, a New Jersey man won $533 million.
Want to play? Grab a ticket, cross your fingers, and dream big. You could be the next lucky winner.
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