News writer
Lottery players throughout the United States are dreaming of winning tonight’s Mega Millions $735 million jackpot. If there is a winner tonight, this will become the sixth-largest jackpot in the history of the game to date. The winner has the option to claim the prize money in 30 annual payments or a one-time lump sum payment of $356.7 million.
A Mega Millions rollover
No one has won the jackpot in this game since December 12, 2023. That means the jackpot has rolled over 26 times so far. This is the second-highest number of consecutive rollovers since the jackpot reached $1.602 billion on August 8, 2023. It took 31 rollovers and three months for the jackpot to reach that size.
It became the third-largest jackpot in the history of the U.S. Lottery and was won by one single player. The winner took the one-time cash option of $794.2 million. The winning ticket was claimed by Saltines Holdings, LLC. It was purchased at the Publix Supermarket located at 580 Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach.
Where to get your hands on Mega Millions tickets
Mega Millions holds the distinction of being the only lottery game to have awarded five jackpots worth more than $1 billion, all in different states – Florida, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, and South Carolina. You can purchase a Mega Millions ticket from your local retailer or online in any state that participates in the U.S. Lottery. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta.
Fun facts about Mega Millions
- The first drawing: The first Mega Millions drawing took place on May 17, 2002. The $28 million jackpot was won by a player in Illinois. The winning numbers were 15, 18, 25, 33, 47, and Mega Ball number 30. There was a second jackpot winner just one week later
- Lots of jackpots: Since the game was launched there have been 214 jackpots won by 241 individual tickets.
- High prize jackpots: Mega Millions has awarded 31 jackpots of more than $300 million.
- Friday the 13th: Seven Mega Millions jackpots have been won on a Friday the 13th.
- Name change: The game was originally called the Big Game, back then the additional ball was referred to as the Big Money Ball. When the game transitioned to Mega Millions the additional ball became renamed as the Mega Ball.
- A unique logo: The stars in the Mega Millions logo represent the six original states in which the game was launched.
- Jackpot or lump sum: Players in Georgia, New Jersey, and Texas have to decide when they buy a ticket if they want the jackpot paid as a lump sum or annuity, Players in all other states can decide after they win.
Good luck with tonight’s Mega Millions. Please remember to play responsibly.
