A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot jumped to $1.02 billion ($1.47 billion) after no one matched all six numbers to win the top prize.
The new jackpot is estimated to be the fourth largest lottery prize in the country.
The jackpot has grown a lot because no one has matched the six selected numbers in the game since April 15th. After Tuesday night’s draw (Wednesday AEST), that’s 29 consecutive draws without a big winner.
Mike Boyle shows the Mega Millions lottery quick picks he bought on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)
Tuesday’s numbers were: 7, 29, 60, 63 and 66 with the Mega Ball 15.
The prize is for winners who opt for the annuity option, paid annually for 30 years. Most winners go for the cash option, which for Friday night’s upcoming draw is around $602.5 million ($869.13 million).
The Mega Millions jackpot was $1.537 million on Oct. 23, 2018 for a ticket sold in South Carolina, the lottery said.
A group of four players in Michigan won a $1.05 billion jackpot on January 22, 2021.
Powerball holds the record for the largest jackpot ever with a jackpot of $1.586 billion in January 2016.
The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 302.5 million.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. The game is coordinated by state lotteries.
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Nancy Linares, left, and Prince Joseph Israel fill out Mega Millions game slips at Blue Bird Liquor in Hawthorne, California. (AP)