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Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $1 Billion for Christmas Eve Drawing
The Mega Millions jackpot has soared to a staggering $1 billion ahead of the Christmas Eve drawing. If someone wins on Tuesday, it will be the seventh-largest prize in the game’s history.
The lump sum cash option is approximately $448.8 million, while winners can also choose annual payments over time. However, winnings are subject to taxes.
No one has claimed the jackpot since September, and the pot has grown with each subsequent drawing.
In recent years, several massive lottery jackpots have been awarded. A California man won $2.04 billion in Powerball in 2022, and a different Californian claimed $1.7 billion in Powerball earlier this year. The largest Mega Millions prize of $1.6 billion was won by a Florida resident last year.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are extremely low, at approximately one in 302.5 million.
Despite the long odds, a lucky winner on Tuesday could become a Christmas Eve billionaire. However, in 2022, a $68 million Mega Millions jackpot was won but never claimed.