According to the game's website, the big prize for the upcoming drawing on Friday night will be at least $640 million because there were no winning tickets sold for Tuesday night's $565 million Mega Millions jackpot.
If enough tickets are sold, that number might increase. A minimum of $328.3 million would be the cash option.
According to a news release from the lottery, the $640 million prize would rank as the sixth-largest winning jackpot in Mega Millions history. It is also "by far the largest Mega Millions prize ever offered in the final week of any year, and could provide someone with a very happy New Year's celebration," the lottery said.
Tuesday night's winning numbers were 9, 13, 36, 59, and 61, with an additional "Mega Ball" of 11.
According to the press release, the most recent Mega Millions jackpot was won on October 14 when two tickets bought in Florida and California combined for a $502 million payout.
The second-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever—a staggering $1.337 billion—was won in July of last year on a ticket purchased in Illinois. The greatest jackpot for Mega Millions was $1.537 billion, which was won in South Carolina in October 2018.
The highest lottery prize ever was $2.04 billion, which was won by a single winning Powerball ticket purchased in California last month.
A winner who chooses the annuity option would receive $640 million. That was distributed in more than 30 annual payments. However, winners typically go with the cash choice.
State and federal taxes may also be deducted, depending on where the winner resides. Additionally, if more than one winning ticket is sold, jackpots are split.
A stunning one in 302.6 million people have a chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot.