This year, Mega Millions players who wish for a green Christmas might be in luck.
According to lottery authorities on Saturday, the pot has increased from $825 million to almost $1 billion because no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Friday night. It was the 29th consecutive drawing since September 10 that had failed to produce a large winner.
With the lottery announcing that the Mega Millions prize has increased to nearly $1 billion, there is even more enchantment in the air this holiday season. On Tuesday, Dec. 24, a huge reward that is now valued at $944 million will be drawn.
A ticket holder might get a lump sum cash payoff of about $429 million if all of the numbers drawn on Christmas Eve match. They would be the third person to win the jackpot in 2024, which would be the fewest wins in a single year since the game’s inception.
A jackpot would also be won on Christmas Eve for the second time in the lottery’s 22-year history.
Mega Millions claims that although the $68 million prize won in New York on December 24, 2002, was won in the game’s first year, it was never claimed.
In August of last year, the largest Mega Millions sum ever—$1.6 billion—was won. Neptune, Florida, is where the winning ticket was bought.
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