Mega Millions Christmas Eve Jackpot Grows To An Estimated $970 Million

The elves are working overtime this week over at Mega Millions, Inc., as Tuesday’s Christmas Eve jackpot is now an estimated $970 million (with a $439.9 million cash option).

But more on that in a moment, as the arguably even bigger news in Mega Millions land was the claiming of a $1.128 billion jackpot that was won back on March 26. The winning ticket was sold in a Neptune, New Jersey ShopRite and the winner — who has chosen to remain anonymous — can just about decide to move to planet Neptune if they wish with that kind of dough.

That $1.128 jackpot was the fifth largest in Mega Millions history, though the current jackpot is getting dangerously close.

At any rate, last Friday’s Mega Millions drawing — the 29th since the last winning numbers were drawn — did produce five Match 5 winners, who matched all five white balls (numbers 2, 20, 51, 56, and 67). But none of the five found their way to the gold Mega Ball of 19 to claim what would have been an $862 million jackpot.

There were a pair of million-dollar tickets sold in Indiana, as well as one each in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Illinois.

All told, Lottery Geeks estimates 49.6 million tickets were sold for Tuesday’s drawing.

Powerball lights a candle

Clearly the Hanukkah to Mega Millions’ Christmas this year (as in, smaller and not a ton of people talking about it), Powerball’s jackpot did grow to $117 million for Wednesday’s drawing, with a cash option of $53.4 million, after nobody took home the gelt Monday night.

The winning numbers were 22, 42, 44, 57, and 64, and a red Powerball of 18.

There was one ticket-buyer in Michigan who matched all five white balls and took home a million bucks, which will buy a whole lotta latkes.

Lottery Geeks estimates 10.8 million tickets were sold for Monday’s drawing.

Tickets for either lottery cost $2, with most states offering the multiplier option — which impacts any prize won except the jackpot — for an additional $1.

Both Powerball and Mega Millions are legal in all states except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Tickets for both draw games are also sold in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, customers can buy tickets for Powerball, but not for Mega Millions.

All-time biggest jackpots

Here is a list of the all-time top 10 U.S. lottery jackpots:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
3. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
4. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
5. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
6. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
7. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
9. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024, won in New Jersey
10. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023, won in California

And here’s the all-time top 10 by lump-sum cash value:

1. $997.6 million, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $983.5 million, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
3. $877.8 million, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
4. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
5. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
6. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
7. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
8. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $621 million, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
10. $558.1 million, Powerball, July 19, 2023, won in California