Mega Millions Jackpot Survives Latest Draw, Gets Closer to $500M

Tuesday marked the latest Mega Millions drawing. While many tried their luck, nobody matched correctly all winning numbers, enabling the jackpot to continue growing closer to the mind-blowing sum of half a billion dollars.

The Lottery Game’s Grand Prize Estimated at $453M for Next Drawing

The Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, saw winning numbers 5, 35, 50, 51 and 59 along with the gold Mega ball 8 drawn. The jackpot was estimated at $420 million at the time but it was able to survive for another draw. The grand prize’s cash option was $194.3 million.

Now, after the jackpot survived the recent draw, it can continue to increase ahead of Friday when the next drawing is scheduled. Details released by the popular lottery game confirmed that its jackpot is estimated at $453 million for the next drawing on Friday, November 22 at 11 PM ET.

If a player wins the grand prize on Friday, they would be presented with an option to collect the complete $453 million jackpot via annuity payments or take home a lump cash sum. With the former option not being really popular among lottery players, the jackpot’s cash option is estimated at $209.6 million.

It is difficult to compare a sum close to half a billion to some $209 million. Yet, with the latter option, if a player matches correctly all winning numbers, they will instantly take home the prize. Needless to say, even after the relevant taxes and federal withholdings, the $209.6 million jackpot cash option is still life-changing.

Players in Pennsylvania, Texas Nearly Miss the Grand Prize

As noted, the jackpot survived on Tuesday, but two lucky players nearly missed the grand prize after matching five winning numbers. That is the case for one Texas and one Pennsylvania ticket holder who matched all winning balls with the exception of the gold Mega ball. The two fortunate players won $1 million each.

In addition, more than a dozen Mega Millions players scored a tier-three prize after matching four winning white balls along with the gold Mega ball in the latest drawing. Two lucky players paid extra for the game’s Megaplier option, benefiting from an x4 Megaplier which increased their payout to $40,000 each. The remaining 12 players collected the standard $10,000 prize.

As usual, the highest number of lottery players won prizes from the lowest tier. On Tuesday’s Mega Millions draw, a total of 429,746 players won $2 after matching only the gold Mega ball.