Someone could win big by the end of the day, as the Mega Millions jackpot rises ahead of Friday night’s drawing. It is now the seventh-largest jackpot ever.
The last jackpot was won on Sept. 10. A single winner from Texas won an $800 million jackpot.
How much is the Mega Millions jackpot now?
With no winning ticket declared on Tuesday, the estimated grand prize grew to $825 million — potentially the largest prize to be won in December and getting ever closer to the uncommon billion-dollar milestone.
The drawing has an estimated $382.2 million lump-sum payment after taxes, according to the lottery. If won, it would be the largest jackpot ever won in the month of December.
What time is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is tonight (Friday, Dec. 20). Drawings are held at 10 p.m. CT every Tuesday and Friday.
What are the Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday?
Check back after 10 p.m. Friday for Mega Millions results.
How to play Mega Millions
To buy a ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store.
To play, you will need to pick six numbers. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball is one number between 1 and 25.
If you ask for a “Quick Pick” or an “Easy Pick,” the computer will randomly generate the numbers for you.
Players can add the “Megaplier” for $1, which can increase non-grand-prize winnings by two, three, four or five times. The Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers on Tuesday and Friday.
There are 15 Megapiler balls in all:
- 2X, five balls
- 3X, six balls
- 4X, three balls
- 5X, one ball
LIST: 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever
Here are the ten largest Mega Millions jackpots ever won, according to the lottery.
- $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
- $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: Won in Maine
- $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
- $1.1 billion, March 23, 2024: Won in New Jersey
- $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
- Current jackpot
- $800 million, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
- $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
What are the chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350-to-1. The odds of matching all five white balls are 12,607,306-to- 1.
