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Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $1.15 Billion After No Winner on Christmas Eve

Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $1.15 Billion After No Winner on Christmas Eve

The Mega Millions jackpot has skyrocketed to an estimated $1.15 billion after no one claimed the grand prize during the Christmas Eve drawing. The prize, which previously reached an estimated $1 billion, is now one of the largest in Mega Millions history. This prize’s lump sum cash option is an eye-watering $516.1 million.

With no jackpot winner from Tuesday’s drawing, the Mega Millions prize has become the fifth-highest in the game’s history. This also places the current jackpot among the top ten most significant lottery prizes in the U.S., highlighting the game’s popularity and extraordinary odds of winning. Mega Millions has had a few high-profile winners over the years, and with this massive prize, more players will undoubtedly be hoping to join the ranks of those who have claimed multi-million-dollar jackpots.

Latest Mega Millions Drawing Results (12/24/2024)

The winning numbers for Tuesday, December 24, 2024, were:
11, 14, 38, 45, 46 and the Mega Ball 3.
The Megaplier for the night was 3X.

Despite the absence of a jackpot winner, the drawing still awarded millions of dollars in prizes. Four tickets matched the first five numbers but missed the Mega Ball, winning $1 million each. These tickets were sold in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. There were 4,292,338 winning tickets across all non-jackpot prize levels, making it a fruitful night for many players.

Next Mega Millions Drawing: The Jackpot Continues to Climb

The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Friday, December 27, 2024, at 11:00 PM ET/10:00 PM CT. Since no one won the top prize in the latest drawing, the jackpot is expected to increase even further, making it an even bigger prize for those hoping to win. The jackpot is currently estimated at $1.15 billion, and with the drawing only a couple of days away, excitement is building for what could become another record-breaking prize.

Why the Jackpot is So Big: 2024’s Unusual Year

This year, there have been fewer Mega Millions jackpots than usual. According to Mega Millions, only three jackpots were won in 2024, making it the year with the fewest wins in the game’s history, which started in 2002. In contrast, 2023 saw a record 10 jackpots awarded, highlighting the stark difference in the frequency of winners.

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The current jackpot is one of the largest ever, continuing to grow after multiple drawings without a winner. In addition to the Mega Millions prize, players still have the chance to win significant secondary prizes, making every drawing exciting.

A Look at Mega Millions’ History of $1 Billion+ Jackpots

The $1.15 billion prize has now surpassed the $1 billion mark, which Mega Millions has only achieved six times in its history. The first time the jackpot crossed $1 billion was in 2018, when a ticket sold in South Carolina won a record-breaking prize. Since then, the jackpot has crossed the billion-dollar threshold multiple times, including recent big winners:

  1. $1.602 billion — August 2023, Florida
  2. $1.537 billion — October 2018, South Carolina
  3. $1.35 billion — January 2023, Maine
  4. $1.337 billion — July 2022, Illinois
  5. $1.128 billion — March 2024, New Jersey

What Happens if the Jackpot Is Claimed?

If someone wins the $1.15 billion jackpot, they can choose the lump-sum cash option of $516.1 million or take the prize in annual payments over 30 years. Taxes will be applied to the lump sum and annuity, reducing the final payout.

The $1.128 billion jackpot winner, who claimed the prize in March 2024, opted to remain anonymous but will receive approximately $537.5 million before taxes.

The Top 10 All-Time U.S. Lottery Jackpots

Here are the top 10 largest U.S. lottery jackpots for Powerball and Mega Millions combined:

  1. $2.04 billion — Powerball, Nov. 2022, California
  2. $1.765 billion — Powerball, Oct. 2023, California
  3. $1.602 billion — Mega Millions, Aug. 2023, Florida
  4. $1.586 billion — Powerball, Jan. 2016, California, Florida, Tennessee
  5. $1.537 billion — Mega Millions, Oct. 2018, South Carolina
  6. $1.35 billion — Mega Millions, Jan. 2023, Maine
  7. $1.337 billion — Mega Millions, July 2022, Illinois
  8. $1.326 billion — Powerball, April 2024, Oregon
  9. $1.15 billion (estimated) — Mega Millions, Present
  10. $1.13 billion — Mega Millions, March 2024, New Jersey

The $1.15 billion jackpot is now the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history, continuing to captivate millions of players as the following drawing approaches.

Stay tuned for updates on the Mega Millions jackpot and more details about upcoming drawings. Will someone claim this massive prize? Only time will tell!

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