It's been the summer of billion-dollar jackpots, first with Powerball in July and now Mega Millions, which has risen to an estimated $1.35 billion ahead of Friday's draw at 11 p.m.
If a ticket holder matches all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball, they'll win the fourth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot of all time.
Here's a look at the all-time highest jackpots, as well as the state where winning tickets were purchased, according to Powerball and Mega Millions data:$2.04 billion Powerball jackpot — Nov. 7, 2022 (California) $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot — Jan. 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee) $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot — Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina) $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot — Aug. 4, 2023 (no winner yet) $1.348 billion Mega Millions jackpot — Jan. 13, 2023 (Maine) $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot — July 29, 2022 (Illinois) $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot — July 19, 2023 (California) $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot — Jan. 22, 2021 (Michigan) $768.4 million Powerball jackpot — March 27, 2019 (Wisconsin) $758.7 million Powerball jackpot — Aug. 23, 2017 (Massachusetts)Billion-dollar jackpots are rare: There have only been eight since both lotteries were established in the 1990s.
To watch the draw live, check out the Mega Millions YouTube channel.
Winners are announced on Mega Millions' website on Wednesday and Saturday mornings after winning tickets have been verified.
Persons:
It's, they'll, Jan, ticketholders, Warren Buffett
Organizations:
Powerball, U.S, Mega
Locations:
California, Florida , Tennessee, South Carolina, Maine, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Massachusetts