The Mega Millions jackpot is approaching a billion once again.
WASHINGTON — The drought for Mega Millions winners is over. extended to 23 consecutive draws after no one matched all six numbers on Tuesday night.
The $785 million jackpot for Tuesday night’s drawing was the biggest since someone in California won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot on Nov. 8.
It now stands at an estimated $940 million before Friday’s drawing.
The winning numbers for Tuesday, January 3 were 25-29-33-41-44 and Mega Ball 18. The Megaplier was 4X.
While no one won the grand prize, six people matched the first five numbers to win at least $1 million.
Players from Maryland, Texas and Virginia won $1 million; three players in Arizona, Mississippi and South Dakota won the million-dollar prize with the Megaplier, for a total win of $4 million each.
That insanely large jackpot goes to a winner who chooses to be paid via an annuity over 29 years.
Almost all winners opt for a single cash payment.
The next draw is on Friday, January 6.
The grand prize is the sixth largest jackpot in United States history.
No one has matched all six numbers in the game for over two months.
There have been 23 consecutive draws without a grand winner, which is not surprising when you consider that the odds of winning a grand prize are only one in 302.6 million.
Lottery players saw several opportunities to win a big jackpot in 2022.
In addition to the $2 billion Powerball, Mega Millions also crossed the billion dollar mark last July.
What are the biggest US lottery jackpots ever won?
1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, November 8, 2022 (one ticket, California)
2. $1.586 million, Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three tickets, in California, Florida, Tennessee)
3. $1.537 million, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018 (one ticket, in South Carolina)
4. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, in Illinois)
5. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, January 22, 2021 (one ticket, in Michigan)
6. $768.4 million Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, in Wisconsin)
7. $758.7 million Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, in Massachusetts)
8. $731.1 million, Powerball, January 20, 2021 (one ticket, in Maryland)
9. $699.8 million, Powerball, October 4, 2021 (one ticket, in California)
10. $687.8 million Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018 (two tickets, in Iowa and New York)
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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