Mega Millions jackpot grows to $714 million
The lottery says more 480,000 tickets did win some kind of prize just not the big one.
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The lottery says more 480,000 tickets did win some kind of prize just not the big one.
The ticket matched all five white ball numbers along with the ticket's 3X multiplier to win the prize, lottery officials said.
Mega Millions has rolled out several changes, including new ticket prices, jackpots and an increase in the odds of winning.
A Mega Millions lottery ticket that contained all the winning numbers — bought along the western edge of the Chicago metro area, in DeKalb County — has made someone in Illinois $344 million richer this week.
Tickets will now cost $5 per play.
The winning ticket was purchased at Tony's Fresh Market at 4608 W. Belmont Ave. in Portage Park.
Ayisha Sheard said she'd pay off her kids' college tuition, and "probably get a new house built from the ground."
Thirteen Mega Million jackpots have been won during December since the game began in 2002.
The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to $670 million after no one claimed the prize during Tuesday night's drawing.
If the winner opts for a cash prize, they will take home $336.1 million.
The winner bought the ticket online, making this the biggest prize ever won through an iLottery and the second-largest prize ever won in Illinois.
The "Mega-Millionaire" received an email from the Illinois Lottery stating that they should check the numbers because they had won a prize. The winner said they plan to retire early and enjoy life with their family.
The prize was said to be the largest ever won by an iLottery player in the nation.
The ticket was purchased by someone in Illinois. However, it's not clear where as it appeared the ticket was bought online.
There was one winning ticket sold for Tuesday night's estimated $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, in New Jersey, officials said. It was the fifth largest in the game's history.
There has not been a grand prize winner since New Year's Day.
No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since Dec. 8, a string of 30 consecutive drawings without anyone taking home the top prize.
The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to an estimated $977 million during the 29 drawings with no winner since Dec. 8.
Illinois lottery players will have two chances this weekend to become a millionaire, if not a billionaire.
The winning ticket was sold at the 508 Variety Shop, located at 508 E. Chain of Rocks Road.
Both tickets matched all six numbers for a total jackpot of $395 million.
It's the second-biggest grand prize ever won in U.S. lottery history, behind only a $2.04 billion pot of gold also won in California in November 2022.
This weekend, lottery players will have three chances to become millionaires with three games taking place starting Friday.
One winning ticket was sold in Florida for the Mega Millions jackpot — the third largest in U.S. lottery history.
There has not been a Mega Millions jackpot winner since April 18.
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