Mega Millions Jackpot Could Top $1 Billion

If you’re buying lottery tickets between now and Friday evening, prepare for long lines. The Mega Millions jackpot surged from $900 million to $970 million Thursday and could top the $1 billion mark before Friday night’s scheduled drawing.

The cash-only option for winners is a none-too-shabby $548 million.

But if you buy a ticket, don’t assume you’re going to hit the jackpot and start spending your winnings. The overall odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 258,890,850.

To put those odds in their proper perspective, you have a much better chance of being struck by lightning than you do of winning the Mega Millions jackpot. The odds of becoming a lightning victim in the U.S. in any one year is 1 in 700,000, according to the National Weather Service.

Pennsylvania had two big winners in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing but they didn't score the jackpot. There were two million-dollar winners, but ticket locations have not yet been revealed by lottery officials.

The Mega Millions jackpot has soared past its previous record of $656 million, set on March 30, 2012. The incredible jackpot comes after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Tuesday night.

The jackpot has rolled over 25 times since it was last won on July 24, when a California office pool of 11 co-workers shared $543 million, the largest prize ever won on a single ticket in the game. Three other Mega Millions jackpots have been won this year – $451 million on January 5 (Florida), $533 million on March 30 (New Jersey), and $142 million on May 4 (Ohio).

Photo: Getty Images.

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