Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $815 Million: Virginia Lottery Announces Record Prize
The Mega Millions jackpot for tonight’s drawing has surged to an incredible $815 million, announced by the Virginia Lottery. This staggering amount could make it the sixth-largest jackpot in the game’s history since it began in 2002, with only five jackpots surpassing $1 billion.
Scheduled for Friday night, the drawing will take place at the WSB-TV studio in Atlanta at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The jackpot has been steadily growing since its last win with two tickets in California on Dec. 8.
In the recent March 12 drawing, over 1.3 million tickets won prizes at various levels, excluding the jackpot. Notably, half of the proceeds from every Mega Millions ticket sold go towards supporting important causes in the states where they’re purchased, as per Virginia law, benefiting K-12 education in the Commonwealth.
Although Tuesday’s drawing didn’t produce a big winner, two individuals matched five numbers and walked away with $1 million each. The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won was an astonishing $1.6 billion on Aug. 8, 2023, claimed in Neptune Beach, Florida.
With odds of winning at 1 in 302,575,350, according to Mega Millions, the excitement and anticipation for tonight’s drawing are palpable. This particular jackpot, which has seen 27 consecutive drawings without a winner, has now exceeded $800 million, with a total prize pool reaching $815 million due to robust ticket sales.
For those considering their chances, Mega Millions is available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with tickets priced at $2 each. The prize, if claimed, can be received as a lump-sum payment of $385.1 million or as a series of annual payments over 29 years.