Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $1.02B, Floridians Have Chance To Win Big

FLORIDA — For just the third time in its 20-year history, the Mega Millions jackpot has soared past the $1 billion mark.

The estimated jackpot for Friday night’s drawing is $1.025 billion, according to a news release from Mega Millions, meaning those playing — including Floridians — have an opportunity to win big. The winner could walk away with $602.5 million in cash.

“We look with anticipation on the growing jackpot,” Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald, current lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said. “Seeing the jackpot build over a period of months and reaching the billion-dollar mark is truly breathtaking. We encourage customers to keep play in balance and enjoy the ride. Someone is going to win.”

Friday’s jackpot is the fourth largest in U.S. history. The largest-ever jackpot was $1.537 billion, which was won on Oct. 23, 2018, in South Carolina. This is also the world’s largest lottery prize ever won on a single ticket.

In Florida, to be eligible for Friday’s drawing, which takes place at 11 p.m. ET, Mega Millions tickets must be purchased by 10 p.m. ET, according to Florida Lottery.

The drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the Sunshine State. They can also be watched on the Florida Lottery website or its YouTube channel.

After the drawing, winning numbers are available on the Florida Lottery website and free mobile app, at retailers statewide, and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.

This current jackpot run began April 19, after someone in Tennessee hit the April 15 jackpot. No ticket matched all six numbers drawn Tuesday night — the white balls 7, 29, 60, 63 and 66, as well as the gold Mega Ball 15 — meaning the jackpot continues Friday.

In Tuesday’s drawing, there were 6,775,330 winning tickets at all prize levels, including nine that matched the five white balls, winning the game’s second prize, Mega Millions said. One of these tickets, sold in Ohio, is worth $3 million because it included the optional Megaplier.

The other eight tickets are worth $1 million each. Two each were sold in New York and New Jersey, while one each was sold in California, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

The frenzy over the Mega Millions jackpot crashed its website Tuesday night, with unprecedented traffic following the drawing taking the site down for more than two hours.