Due to the fact that no one claimed the estimated $685 million jackpot on Friday night, the first Mega Millions drawing of the new year will be significant. Prior to the subsequent drawing on Tuesday night, the top reward jumped to $785 million.
According to a statement released by Mega Millions early on Saturday, no lottery ticket purchased matched every one of the six numbers selected on Friday night. Friday's numbers were 1, 3, 6, 44, 51, and the gold Mega Ball 7.
Due to the high odds of one in 302.6 million, which led to 22 consecutive drawings without a significant winner, the prize has grown significantly.
The estimated $785 million prize is for a winner who opts to receive annual payments over a 29-year annuity. The majority of winners choose cash, which for the upcoming drawing would be over $395 million.
Since a $2.04 billion Powerball prize was won in California on November 8, the jackpot is the greatest it has ever been. There has not yet been a winner for that record-breaking prize.
Only three times in the past has the Mega Millions prize exceeded $700 million, and each of those three rolls carried on above $1 billion, according to Mega Millions.