The Mega Millions jackpot has reached a staggering $977 million for the upcoming Friday night drawing.
This comes after no tickets matched all the numbers drawn on Tuesday night, which were 24, 46, 49, 62, 66. The gold Mega Ball was 7.
Tuesday’s estimated jackpot was $893 million, with a cash prize of $421.4 million. The cash prize for Friday’s drawing has now increased to $461 million, making it an incredibly enticing opportunity for lottery players across the country.
Although no one won the grand prize on Tuesday, four lucky individuals in California, Texas, Virginia, and Florida won $1 million each.
This is only the sixth time in Mega Millions’ nearly 22-year history that the jackpot has reached such a high level.
Mega Millions remains the only lottery to have awarded $1 billion five times with each time in a different state.
In fact, only five previous jackpots have exceeded the $1 billion mark, with each one being won in a different state. South Carolina was the first to see a billion-dollar winner in 2018, followed by Michigan in 2021, Illinois in 2022, Maine in early 2023, and Florida in August of the same year.
Despite the allure of the enormous jackpot, it’s important to remember that the odds of winning any lottery, including Mega Millions, are extremely slim. Players have a 1 in 302.6 million chance of taking home the top prize.
Mega Millions tickets are sold for $2 each and can be purchased in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As the anticipation builds for Friday’s drawing, countless hopeful individuals will be eager to see if they hold the lucky ticket that could change their lives forever.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.