Mega Millions jackpot hits $1 billion for Christmas Eve drawing
The Mega Millions jackpot has only been won three times in 2024, the fewest wins in a single year since the game began.
(NewsNation) — Feeling lucky this Christmas? The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $1 billion.
The grand prize for Tuesday night's Christmas Eve drawing has crossed the billion-dollar mark for only the seventh time in the game's history, according to the lottery. The cash option is $448.8 million and the winning numbers will be announced at 11 p.m. ET.
If someone wins, it would be the largest Mega Millions prize ever in December and only the second win on Christmas Eve.
Overall it's been an unlucky year for lottery players. The Mega Millions jackpot has only been won three times, the fewest wins in a single year since the game began.
That's not shocking given the probability. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.
To put that in perspective: You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning or attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park (1 in 3.5 million).
The jackpot was last won in Texas on September 10. Since then, there have been 29 drawings but nobody has taken home the grand prize.
Tuesday's jackpot is the seventh largest in Mega Millions history, according to the lottery.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 each.
