Lottery jackpot rises above $1 billion

On By Littum

The Mega Millions jackpot rose to $1.22 billion after no one hit all six numbers on Christmas Eve.

The Friday night drawing comes with a cash option of $549.7 million. If won, it would be the fifth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, according to lottery.

“We know many people are likely to receive tickets for Friday’s draw as a Christmas present, and what a gift it would be if you end up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot,” Joshua Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of Mega Millions. Consortium, said in one news release before the jackpot rose again to DKK 1.22 billion.

The last time a Mega Millions jackpot was claimed was in Texas on September 10, when one lucky person won a $552 million jackpot.

The winning numbers because the lottery was to be drawn just after 11 p.m. ET Friday, and we have the results below. Did someone give you a billion dollars for Christmas?

Mega Millions winning numbers for 12/27/24

The winning numbers from the Friday, December 27 Mega Millions drawing are

Winning lotto numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier from the USA TODAY Network.

Did anyone win the Mega Millions?

USA TODAY will tell who the winners were, if any, on Saturday.

To see the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website.

How to play Mega Millions

To play Mega Millions, you need to buy a ticket. You can do this in a variety of places, including your local convenience store, gas station, or even the grocery store. In some states, Mega Millions tickets can be purchased online.

Once you have your ticket, select six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70. The Gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 25.

If you’re feeling particularly unlucky or don’t want to go through the trouble of choosing, you can ask for a “Quick Select”or a”Easy choice.” These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.

For an extra dollar, players can add the “Megaplier,” which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times. Megapliers are drawn before six Mega Millions numbers are drawn.

There are 15 Megapillar balls in total:

  • 2X, five balls
  • 3X, six balls
  • 4X, three balls
  • 5X, one bullet

Where can I buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and convenience stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online via Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier from the USA TODAY Networkin these US states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, DC and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select your lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket and claim your winnings all from your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn money for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trendy news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him at X @fern_cerv_.