NEW YORK — The Mega Millions jackpot continues to heat up, soaring to $825 million for Friday's drawing.
If won on that level, it would be the largest December prize and the seventh largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.
The jackpot has been growing since Sept. 10, when it was last won at $810 million in Texas. No ticket matched the recent drawing's winning numbers, though Tuesday's drawing produced several million-dollar winners.
Five lottery players are waking up as fresh millionaires Wednesday. Tickets sold in California, Louisiana and Oklahoma had all five white ball numbers correct, earning their owners a million dollars. One ticket, sold in North Carolina, earned $4 million due to the "Megaplier" option, which was 4X on Tuesday.
Only three Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year including a $1.1 billion winning ticket that was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings. The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.
Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024
The winning numbers for Tuesday's drawing were: 56-66-67-68-69 − 18 MegaBall, with 4x MegaPlier.
When a winner matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out as an annuity over 30 years, or a lump sum cash payout of roughly half the size. Winners almost always take the cash option.
Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million.
What time is the Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings take place Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
Largest Mega Millions jackpots in history
- $1.602 billion - August 8, 2023 - Florida
- $1.537 billion - October 23, 2018 - South Carolina
- $1.348 billion - January 13, 2023 - Maine
- $1.337 billion - July 29, 2022 - Illinois
- $1.128 billion - March 26, 2024 - New Jersey
- $1.050 billion - January 22, 2021 - Michigan
- $825 million (est) - December 20, 2024
- $810 million - September 10, 2024 - Texas
- $656 million - March 30, 2012 - Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
- $648 million - December 17, 2013 - California/Georgia
- $552 million - June 4, 2024 - Illinois
