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Mega Millions jackpot tops $1 billion after no big winner

By AP Staff
Published  January 7, 2023 8:22am EST
Money
Associated Press

What are the odds you win the lottery?

What are the odds you win the lottery? You're more likely to be struck by lightning.

Another Mega Millions drawing, another night without a big winner.

No one hit all six numbers and won the estimated $940 million jackpot, pushing the lottery prize to an estimated $1.1 billion ahead of the next drawing Tuesday night.

The prize is now the third-largest in U.S. history.

The numbers drawn late Friday were: 3, 20, 46, 59, 63 and gold Mega Ball 13.

There have been 24 drawings without a jackpot winner, stretching back for more than two months. The winless streak is largely due to the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million.

The new estimated prize of $1.1 billion is for a winner who chooses an annuity paid annually over 29 years. Grand prize winners usually take the cash option, which for Tuesday night’s drawing will be an estimated $568.7 million.

READ MORE: $940M Mega Millions among latest massive jackpots

"Mega Millions has just reached the $1 billion mark again. It’s especially nice to see the jackpot grow throughout the holidays and into the new year," Pat McDonald, the Ohio lottery director and lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement early Saturday. "As the jackpot grows, we encourage our players to keep within their entertainment budget and enjoy this jackpot run right along with us."

The only Mega Millions jackpots larger than the estimated $1.1 billion opportunity on Tuesday have been the $1.53 billion won in South Carolina in 2018 and $1.33 billion winning ticket in Illinois in July, Mega Millions said in the statement.

e29e47b2-Jackpot For Mega Millions Risen To $1.28 Billion

A pedicab rides past advertisements for the Mega Millions and Powerball lottery on July 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by John Smith/VIEWpress)

Elijah Kouza, assistant manager of Buscemi’s convenience store in Livonia, Michigan, said the Mega Millions jackpot drew numerous customers before Friday night's draw. The $940 million prize was prominently advertised at the store and Kouza expected far more Mega Millions ticket sales than the 20 to 25 normally sold on a Friday.

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"It’s kind of hilarious to me, because if it’s like $100 million, people are like, ‘Nah.’ They’ll pass," he said.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.