Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $314 Million
Monday December 9th 2019The Mega Millions jackpot has soared past $300 million for the third time this year, climbing to $314 million ($212.3 million cash) for the Tuesday, December 10 drawing. It's the biggest prize offered since June 7.
The jackpot reached its latest peak on Friday night after no ticket matched all six winning numbers - white balls 20, 31, 40, 46 and 61, plus Mega Ball 20.
It's also the third December in a row that Mega Millions has risen above $300 million, offering the prospect of an extra-festive holiday.
2018 also saw a high jackpot in the lead-up to Christmas, which turned into a spectacular New Year's win of $437 million for a group of 23 co-workers in Long Island, New York.
A big jackpot also featured in December 2017; it had reached $451 million by the time it was won on January 5, 2018 by Shane Missler of Port Richey, Florida - who immediately announced his retirement at the ripe old age of 20.
The jackpot has been rolling since it was last hit at $227 million by a ticket purchased in Leander, Texas on September 24. That doesn't mean there haven't been any prizes though - over 10.5 million tickets have won since the jackpot went off, including 15 of $1 million or above.
So far the jackpot has been won six times this year. As well as the wins in January and September, other jackpots awarded in 2019 have been:
- $273 million won by Michael Weirsky in New Jersey on March 1
- $50 million won by Hira Singh in Missouri on March 12
- $522 million won by Laarni Bibal in California on June 7
- $168 million won in New Hampshire on July 23 (the first Mega Millions jackpot won in the state!)
The jackpot hasn't actually been won in December since 2013, giving the winner a very merry Christmas on December 17 with a $648 million prize, the third-largest in Mega Millions history!
Will the jackpot continue its pattern of an incredible win early in the New Year - or go off with a bang before the ball drops? Either way, the huge prize is giving players some extra thrills this holiday season.
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