CHICAGO (CBS) — Get those lottery tickets out. The Mega Millions jackpot grew to $1.22 billion ahead of Friday night’s draw, making it one of the largest jackpots in the history of the game.
The winning numbers drawn on Friday evening were: 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, with a Mega Ball of 6.
The chance of that huge jackpot got lottery players excited for a chance at the gigantic top prize.
They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice, but some people who play the Mega Millions game are hoping lottery magic will do just that, by checking out two places that have a proven track record of picking winners.
Some customers at the Jewel-Osco store in Melrose Park are walking away with more than just groceries. One person picked up a $1 million Powerball ticket at the store last Saturday.
“I come here every day, so now I’m thinking, ‘I have to start playing the lottery.’ Yes, definitely, every day,” Ayisha Sheard said.
Jessica Mendina, who doesn’t play the lottery, said it was cool to hear that someone had already won $1 million playing the lottery there last week.
“Good for them, honestly. I’m happy for them, especially now that we’re in this season of giving. Sometimes you just need a little hope for the new year to come. You don’t know what they can do with it.” They could do anything now,” she said.
So what would players do if they had the money to do something?
“I’m definitely going to pay off my tuition and buy a property,” Peter Valez said.
Sheard said she would pay off her children’s college tuition and “probably have a new house built from the ground up.”
Very sensible options, sure, but what about a splurge?
“I would buy a boat for Lake Michigan; definitely dock there, yes,” Valez said.
Brian Wakeman said he would buy a house in Florida.
Sheard said she “may even give everyone a car.”
“Just like Oprah. Everybody gets a car. You get a car, you get a car,” she said.
Nearly every customer at a River Grove grocery store picked up tickets Friday. The store has previously had a $600,000 winner.
“I think the most I’ve ever won is $100,” Valez said. “See you tonight.”
Patricia DeVito has already won $1 on her scratch ticket. Not much, but she said that’s pretty good luck for the day.
“I never win. My daughter is always the winner, but not me,” she said.
Devito said she hopes the luck carries over to her Mega Millions ticket
“Wow, I would be very happy,” she said.
Lottery players have claimed the Mega Millions jackpot just three times in 2024 – the fewest in any year since the game began.
If you don’t win on Friday night, there’s always next time, but starting in April 2025, the price of a Mega Millions ticket will increase from $2 to $5.
