Mega Millions jackpot soars past $1 billion

No one won the Mega Millions jackpot on Christmas Eve, so Friday’s grand prize will hit an estimated $1.15 billion – the largest prize ever offered in the month of December. That’s a $516.1 million cash prize.

If a ticket wins the grand prize, it would be just the seventh time in the game’s history that the jackpot has soared past $1 billion. The six won to date were awarded in South Carolina in 2018, Michigan in 2021, Illinois in 2022, Maine and Florida in 2023 and New Jersey last March. The Florida prize is the game’s record jackpot at $1.602 billion.

It’s been three months since a Houston resident claimed the last jackpot, $810 million. Before that, a $552 million jackpot was taken in Illinois on June 4 and a $1.128 billion prize was won in New Jersey on March 26.

If the jackpot is won Friday, it would be the fifth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.

The jackpot has been won only three times so far in 2024, making it the fewest wins in any single year since the game began in 2002.

Next year, a shot at the jackpot will be a little more expensive. Starting in April, tickets will cost $5 per play. It’s just the second time the lottery has raised its ticket price since the game started in 2002.

Mega Millions say they will also provide improved odds, more frequent and larger jackpots and bigger starting jackpots.