Mega Millions players dreaming of a green Christmas may be in luck this year.
Lottery officials said Saturday that there were no tickets matching all six numbers drawn Friday evening, meaning the pot rose from $825 million to nearly $1 billion. It was the 29th consecutive draw without a major winner, dating all the way back to September 10.
“There is extra magic in the air this holiday season as the Mega Millions jackpot has grown to nearly a billion dollars!” the lottery announced. “A huge prize currently valued at $944 million is set for the next draw on Tuesday, December 24.”
Should a cardholder match all the numbers on Christmas Eve, he or she could walk away with a lump sum cash payout of approximately $429 million. If they win, they will be only the third person to win the jackpot in 2024, which would be the fewest winnings in any year since the game began.
It would also be only the second time in the 22-year history of the lottery that a jackpot has been won on Christmas Eve.
“That was in the game’s very first year, but the $68 million prize won in New York on December 24, 2002 ultimately went unclaimed,” Mega Millions said.
The largest Mega Millions pot ever, $1.6 billion, was won in August last year. The winning ticket was purchased in Neptune, Florida.
