Mega Millions jackpot/ Christmas Eve lottery/ billion-dollar jackpot/ Mega Millions odds/ lottery updates 2024/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.15 billion after no one won the Christmas Eve drawing. This Friday’s prize, the largest ever offered in December, would be the fifth largest in Mega Millions history. While tickets remain $2, odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.
Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $1.15 Billion: Quick Looks
- Next Drawing: Friday, December 27, at 11 p.m. ET.
- Current Jackpot: $1.15 billion, or $516.1 million cash option.
- Holiday Winners: Four tickets matched five numbers for $1 million each in California, Missouri, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania.
- Mega Millions History: Only seven jackpots have surpassed $1 billion since the game began in 2002.
- Upcoming Changes: Ticket prices increase to $5 in April 2025, with improved odds and larger starting jackpots.
$1.15 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot Up for Grabs This Friday
Deep Look
The holiday season just got more exciting for lottery enthusiasts, as the Mega Millions jackpot has ballooned to $1.15 billion after no one won Tuesday night’s Christmas Eve drawing.
This Friday’s prize represents the largest jackpot ever offered in December and ranks as the fifth largest in the game’s history. A single winner could take home a $516.1 million cash payout.
Tuesday’s Winning Numbers
The winning numbers for December 24 were: 11, 14, 38, 45, 46, and Mega Ball 3. While no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the grand prize, four lucky players matched five numbers, earning $1 million each. These winning tickets were sold in California, Missouri, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania.
Historical Context
The Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed $1 billion only seven times since the game began in 2002. The record-holding prize of $1.602 billion was won in Florida in 2023. Other billion-dollar winners hail from South Carolina (2018), Michigan (2021), Illinois (2022), and New Jersey (2024).
This year, the jackpot has been won only three times, making 2024 the fewest wins in a single year since Mega Millions’ inception. The most recent jackpot winner, a Houston-area resident, claimed $810 million in October after purchasing the ticket in Sugar Land, Texas.
A Holiday Gift Like No Other
Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, highlighted the unique timing of the prize, noting that tickets purchased as holiday gifts could lead to life-changing winnings.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays—whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice—than by helping fulfill the dreams that come with a prize like this,” Johnston said.
Upcoming Changes to Mega Millions
Starting in April 2025, Mega Millions will increase its ticket price to $5 per play. The lottery has promised enhancements, including improved odds, more frequent large jackpots, and bigger starting prizes. This marks the second price increase in the game’s history, following an earlier adjustment from $1 to $2 per ticket.
How to Play
Mega Millions tickets are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets cost $2, and the odds of winning the jackpot remain steep at 1 in 302.5 million.
What’s Next?
As anticipation builds for Friday’s drawing, players across the country will have their eyes on the prize. Whether purchased for personal play or given as a holiday gift, the chance to win $1.15 billion offers a thrilling end to 2024.
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