Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $1.15 Billion; No Christmas Eve Winner

The Mega Millions jackpot has skyrocketed to an astounding $1.15 billion after no winning ticket was drawn on Christmas Eve. This marks the seventh-largest jackpot in the game’s history and the largest ever won in December if a ticket matches all six numbers drawn in the next drawing.

Record-Breaking Jackpot

The numbers drawn on Christmas Eve were 11, 14, 38, 45, 46, and the gold Mega Ball 3. Despite the excitement, no ticket matched all six numbers, causing the jackpot to roll over to an estimated $1.15 billion. The cash value of the jackpot is estimated to be $516.1 million.

Historical Context

The last time the Mega Millions jackpot was won was on September 10, when a ticket in Texas claimed an $810 million prize. Since then, the jackpot has ballooned over 29 consecutive drawings without a winner. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

The next Mega Millions drawing will take place Tuesday at 11 p.m. Eastern. Nobody has won the grand prize since September.
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Player Reactions

Lottery players across the country are eagerly anticipating the next drawing, which will take place on Friday at 11 p.m. ET. “It’s a life-changing amount of money,” said one hopeful player. “You can’t help but dream about what you would do with that kind of windfall.”

Previous Christmas Eve Wins

Interestingly, the Mega Millions jackpot has only been won on Christmas Eve once before. In 2002, a $68 million jackpot was won in New York, though it was never claimed. This adds an extra layer of anticipation for the upcoming drawing.

How to Play

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are priced at $2 per play. Players can choose to receive their winnings as an annuity, paid out over 30 years, or as a one-time cash lump sum, which is significantly smaller.

Looking Ahead

As the excitement builds, lottery officials remind players to play responsibly and be aware of potential lottery scams. “While people need to be vigilant at all times, this is especially true during periods of larger jackpots,” according to the Mega Millions website.

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