The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $525 million after no ticket matched all six numbers in the recent drawing. The winning numbers were 5, 45, 55, 58, and 68, with the Mega Ball being 7. The cash option for the jackpot is worth $247.1 million, making it the 11th largest jackpot in the history of the game and the fifth largest in the past five years.
The last time the Mega Millions jackpot was won was in December when two tickets in California split a $394 million grand prize. The current jackpot marks the first half-billion-dollar jackpot in 2024, with two instances of it crossing that point in the past 12 months.
In 2023, the Mega Millions lottery saw two jackpots climb above the billion-dollar mark, with one hitting $1.348 billion in January and another reaching $1.602 billion in August. The largest jackpot in Mega Millions history was won last year at $1.602 billion.
On the other hand, Powerball's jackpot has also been increasing and stood at $348 million ahead of its recent drawing. The first winning Powerball numbers of the year were drawn as the jackpot topped $842.4 million.
Overall, lottery players have another chance to win the Mega Millions jackpot on February 23. The excitement around these large jackpots continues to attract players hoping to strike it rich. The allure of winning millions with just a single ticket purchase keeps the lottery industry thriving and players dreaming of what they would do with their newfound wealth.