The holiday season just got a little more exciting for lottery enthusiasts as the Mega Millions jackpot has surged past $1 billion. With no ticket matching all six numbers drawn on Christmas Eve, the estimated jackpot for Friday’s drawing now stands at $1.15 billion, marking it as potentially the fifth-largest jackpot in the game’s history.
Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, shared his excitement in a statement on Wednesday. “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.”
For those dreaming of hitting the jackpot, the odds remain steep at 1 in 302,575,350. However, the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are significantly better at 1 in 24.
Mega Millions tickets, priced at $2 each, are available in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Half of the proceeds from ticket sales stay in the state where the ticket is sold, benefiting local programs. Drawings are held twice weekly at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays – whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, or any other way people choose to celebrate the season – than by helping fulfill the dreams that come with a prize like this and prizes that will be won at all levels of the game,” Johnston added.
As Friday approaches, those stocking-stuffer tickets could turn out to be the ultimate holiday surprise, making dreams come true for some lucky ticket holders.
