DES MOINES, Iowa, USA — Mega Millions lottery players will have another chance Friday night to end months of losses and finally win a jackpot that has grown to as much as $1.35 billion.
Lots of people have won smaller prizes, but no one has matched all six numbers and won the jackpot since October 14. Those 25 consecutive draws with no winner have allowed the jackpot to grow for three months.
It is now the fourth-highest jackpot in American lottery history. If there is no winner on Friday night, the jackpot will be close to Powerball’s record $2.04 billion, which was won last November in California.
The long streak without a Mega Millions jackpot winner is due to the game’s low odds: one in 302.6 million.
The $1.35 billion prize goes to a winner who chooses annuities over 29 years. Almost all winners opt for immediate payment, which for Friday night’s drawing is estimated at $707.9 million.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, as well as Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands.