Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $800 Million Ahead of Draw
The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an impressive $800 million following the latest drawing on Halloween, where no player matched all six numbers, including the gold Mega Ball. This substantial prize now offers a cash option valued at over $371 million for the upcoming drawing scheduled for Tuesday at 23:00 Eastern Time.
Historically, November has been a challenging month for Mega Millions jackpots, as the last winning ticket during this period was sold in 2016. According to a statement from Mega Millions, since the game’s inception in 2002, there have been only 16 jackpots won in November, with the largest being a $326 million prize awarded in New York on November 4, 2014.
The current jackpot has been accumulating since a Virginia resident claimed $348 million on June 27, 2023. Since that date, there have been 36 drawings without a jackpot winner, though over 11 million winning tickets at various prize levels have been sold, contributing to total prizes exceeding $261 million. Notably, other significant jackpots this year include wins in Ohio for $112 million on April 18, Illinois for $349 million on March 25, and Arizona for $112 million on January 17.
Tickets for the Mega Millions are priced at $5 and are available for purchase in 45 states and Washington, D.C. The odds of winning the jackpot stand at approximately 1 in 290 million. With the jackpot soaring to new heights, anticipation builds as players prepare for the next drawing.
