UPDATE: CHICAGO (AP) — Across the country, Americans plunked down an estimated $1.5 billion on the longest of long shots: an infinitesimally small chance to win what could end up being the single biggest lottery payout the world has ever seen. The numbers drawn Friday night in Atlanta were 2-4-23-38-46, Mega Ball 23. Lottery officials have yet to release details about possible winners from Friday night's drawing.
The Mega Millions jackpot has now reached historic proportions. With no jackpot winner in Tuesday’s drawing, the jackpot for tonight (FRI) is an estimated $640 million.
That's the largest lottery jackpot in world history, surpassing the previous record of $390 million.
If one ticket matches all six numbers for the mega-jackpot, the winner would have the choice of receiving the full jackpot in 26 annual payments of about $24.6 million, or a cash option of approximately $462 million.
Kansas Lottery Executive Director Dennis Wilson said, "Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing has created amazing excitement among players across the country and here in Kansas. Everyone has their eye on the big prize and is thinking about what dreams could come true with $640 million in the bank. Kansas is proud to be one of the 42 states offering a lottery game that is rewriting the history book."
This jackpot has been growing since January 24 and has now rolled over 18 times without a winner. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately one in 176 million. The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are approximately 1 in 40.
Mega Millions is played in 44 jurisdictions (42 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 p.m. Central Time.