Did anyone win the $1.22B Mega Millions jackpot?
The jackpot is the fifth largest in Mega Millions history.
Mega Millions jackpot: WASHINGTON — On Friday night, the fifth largest jackpot in the history of Mega Millions was available, as Americans envisioned a substantial gift for the Christmas week. The prize reached an estimated $1.22 billion for the drawing on Friday, following a lack of jackpot winners on Christmas Week present.
Should someone win at this amount, it would mark the largest December prize ever recorded in the lottery’s history.
The jackpot has been increasing
The jackpot has been increasing since September 10, when it was last claimed at $810 million in Texas. The drawing on Christmas Eve did yield several million-dollar winners.
This year, only three Mega Millions jackpots have been awarded, including a winning ticket worth $1.13 billion that was purchased in New Jersey in March. This prize was claimed earlier this week. It is possible that the identity of the winner may remain unknown, as New Jersey allows winners the option to remain anonymous. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to date, amounting to $1.6 billion, was sold in Florida in August of the previous year.
“We understand that many individuals will likely receive tickets for Friday’s drawing as holiday presents, and what an extraordinary gift it would be if one were to possess a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot,” stated Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, in a statement on Wednesday.
Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024
The numbers drawn in Friday’s lottery were: 3-7-37-49-55 − 6 MegaBall, accompanied by a 3x MegaPlier.
Winners who successfully match all five numbers along with the Mega Ball can choose between receiving the entire jackpot as an annuity distributed over 30 years or opting for a lump sum cash payment, which is approximately half the total amount. It is common for winners to select the cash option.
Those who match only the first five numbers are guaranteed a minimum prize of $1 million.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings are conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
Largest Mega Millions jackpots in history (Mega Millions jackpot)
- $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 – Florida
- $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 – South Carolina
- $1.348 billion – January 13, 2023 – Maine
- $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 – Illinois
- $1.22 billion (est) – Dec. 27, 2024
- $1.128 billion – March 26, 2024 – New Jersey
- $1.050 billion – January 22, 2021 – Michigan
- $810 million – September 10, 2024 – Texas
- $656 million – March 30, 2012 – Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
- $648 million – December 17, 2013 – California/Georgia
- $552 million – June 4, 2024 – Illinois
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