Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $619M for Next Drawing

The jackpot from Mega Millions was an estimated $579 million at the latest drawing of the popular lottery game on Friday. With a cash option at $278.4 million, many tried their luck for the game’s grand prize, but nobody matched correctly the winning numbers 16, 21, 33, 39, 45 and the gold Mega ball 24.

Now, ahead of the next drawing of Mega Millions, the jackpot surpassed the mind-blowing sum of $600 million.

Close to $620M up for Grabs from Mega Millions

After nobody was lucky enough to beat the odds of 1 in 302.5 million on Friday, the jackpot from Mega Millions is now estimated at $619 million. Not unexpectedly, the cash option for the top prize is also astronomical, as sweet $297.7 million.

The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10 at 11 PM ET. In case a winner matches correctly all winning white balls together with the gold Mega ball, they would be able to collect the entire $619 million jackpot via annual installments or instantly take home a lump sum of nearly $300 million thanks to the cash option. Usually, jackpot winners select the latter option as they can instantly take a sum of nearly half of the jackpot.

Nobody Won the Jackpot or a Tier-Two Prize

Undoubtedly, millions of players tried their luck for the top prize in Mega Millions’ latest draw. Regretfully, not only did nobody win the jackpot but there was also no one that matched four white balls for a tier two $1 million prize.

On the bright side, more than two dozen lottery players matched correctly four white balls along with the gold Mega ball on the Mega Millions drawing from Friday. Four of those lucky players paid extra for the game’s Megaplier option, enabling them to collect a $20,000 prize each. On the other hand, the remaining 22 players took home a prize of $10,000 each.

A total of 756 players matched correctly four white balls for a tier-four prize. Of that total, 177 players collected a $1,000 Megaplier prize each, while the remaining won the standard $500 prize each.

The last time a lucky winner won the Mega Millions jackpot was back in September. At the time, a Texas player hit the game’s grand prize.

If won on Tuesday, the $619 million jackpot would be the 10th largest jackpot in Mega Millions’ history.