MEGA MILLIONS

Lottery officials in Illinois have announced that the winners of this summer’s multibillion-dollar Mega Millions jackpot have finally stepped forward. Illinois Lottery officials announced Wednesday that two people, who decided to remain anonymous, have won the jackpot. They bought the ticket at a gas station in Des Plaines, Illinois, WBBM reported. “They stopped into the Speedway in Des Plaines and grabbed a Mega Millions ticket while they were there. That turned out to be an absolutely life-changing decision when a $3 line of Mega Millions with Megaplier turned into a $1.34 billion jackpot win,” Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays said, according to WGN.

Lottery officials say two people who wish to remain anonymous have claimed a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot after a single ticket was sold in a Chicago suburb for a late July drawing, opting to take a lump sum payment of $780.5 million.

State lottery officials are telling people in Illinois to double check their tickets, after winner has yet to claim their prize one month later.

It's been nearly a month since the winning numbers for one of the largest jackpots in Mega Millions history were pulled. But no one has come forward to claim the $1.34 billion prize yet.

No one has claimed the $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot. Here's what happens if it goes unclaimed.

Mega Millions players in North Carolina should check their tickets: Many won prizes but not the $1.33 billion jackpot.

But don’t despair when there’s another huge prize up for grabs, because Central Florida does have a history of giving lottery players some big wins. READ: Mega Millions: Winning ticket for $1.337B jackpot sold in IllinoisCourtesy of Florida Lottery, here are the 9 biggest lottery winnings in Central Florida. $370.8 million of an advertised $600 million Powerball jackpot, May 2013 in Zephyr Hills. $281.8 million of an advertised $450 million Mega Millions jackpot, January 2018 in Palm Harbor. $115.4 million of an advertised $400 million Mega Millions jackpot, March 2014 in Merritt Island.

Most states do not currently grant anonymity to lottery winners. Some lawmakers have tried to change that in recent years out of growing privacy and safety concerns.

Five Mega Millions winning tickets from Friday’s drawing were sold in Florida, including one from a Kissimmee Publix.

Lottery officials say a ticket bought in Illinois matches the winning numbers for the Mega Millions' $1.337 billion jackpot, which ranks among the largest ever.

Video: Winning the lottery can also bring misfortune, financial experts say The second-largest Mega Millions jackpot has a new winner Saturday afternoon. (James Tutten, WFTV.com/WFTV)ORLANDO, Fla. — The second-largest Mega Millions jackpot has a new winner Saturday afternoon. READ: Mega Millions: Winning ticket for $1.337B jackpot sold in IllinoisThe $1.2 billion ticket was sold to someone in Illinois. Photos: Winning the lottery can also bring misfortune, financial experts sayExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Winning the lottery can also bring misfortune, financial experts sayChannel 9 spoke with experts who said a prize that big often comes with bigger problems. Kirsner said that once a person’s family and friends know they won, everyone wants a piece of the pie.

Despite the big prize being won elsewhere, several locals took home big prizes in the drawing.

(NCD)At least one person is a lot richer today after winning the second-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. >> Read more trending newsAccording to the Mega Millions website, one ticket in Illinois matched the winning numbers for an estimated $1.28 billion. The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was on April 15, when a ticket in Tennessee was worth $20 million. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 302,575,350. Mega Millions can be played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mega Millions A Lottery screen displays the current jackpot totals for tonight's Mega Millions lottery drawing as a customer buys a ticket at a convince store Friday July 29, 2022, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber)DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — You bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket and have been dreaming of how you’ll spend $1.28 billion. The jackpot is the third-largest lottery prize and the biggest in nearly four years. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Across the U.S., state lottery systems use lottery revenue to boost education, tourism, transportation and much more. With the big Mega Millions jackpot, state officials are hoping increased national interest in securing the top prize will result in more funding for their own causes.

It marks the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history.

Friday's 11 p.m. drawing could lead to a $1.28 billion lottery prize, the second biggest Mega Millions jackpot.

VIDEO: With more than a billion dollars up for grabs, Central Floridians try their luck A billion dollars is up for grabs. (Chantelle Navarro, WFTV.com/WFTV)ORLANDO, Fla. — A billion dollars is up for grabs. READ: States hope for revenue boost with Mega Millions crazeThe Mega Millions jackpot has ballooned to nearly $1.3 billion. 🤯 💸 pic.twitter.com/J6bZfE51Vy — Florida Lottery (@floridalottery) July 29, 2022READ: $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot on the line Friday nightThe estimated $1.28 billion jackpot is the third largest in Mega Millions history. The Rightway gas station on Orange Blossom Trail claims to be the winningest gas station in Central Florida.

The Louisiana fast-food chain known for its chicken tenders has vowed to share the winnings with its 50,000 employees.

The Mega Millions drawing is tonight with a jackpot of over a billion dollars. And that has scam artists trying to capitalize on the opportunity and rip people off.

Some joked on social media about how they’d bring back the Choco Taco or buy Bruce Springsteen tickets. Others had ideas ranging from typical to grandiose.

The estimated $747.2 million cash value would be the second largest prize in the game's history, according to Mega Millions.

(NCD)The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has risen again in advance of Friday’s drawing, lottery officials announced. How much money will you get after taxes if you win the Mega Millions lottery jackpot? The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was on April 15. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 302,575,350. The record for a lottery jackpot in the United States is a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot that was won on Jan. 13, 2016.

Lottery Jackpot FILE - In this Wednesday, July 27, 2022 file photo, Mega Millions lottery tickets are shown at a lottery retailer in Surfside, Fla. A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to over $1 billion after no one matched all six numbers and won the top prize. That last time someone hit the Mega Millions jackpot was April 15. If no one wins the Mega Millions jackpot Friday night, lottery officials expect the prize will grow to $1.7 billion for the next drawing Tuesday, making it the nation’s largest lottery prize. Before rushing out to spend $2 on a ticket, keep in mind that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.5 million. The estimated $1.28 billion prize is for players who get their winnings through an annuity, paid annually over 29 years.

The Mega Millions jackpot continues to swell ahead of Friday night’s drawing.

While the odds are stacked against you snaring the top prize, it's worth giving thought to what you actually would do if you were to win.

Lottery Jackpot FILE - In this Wednesday, July 27, 2022 file photo, Mega Millions lottery tickets are shown at a lottery retailer in Surfside, Fla. A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to over $1 billion after no one matched all six numbers and won the top prize. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (Wilfredo Lee)DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — A $1.1 billion lottery prize will be on the line Friday night as numbers are drawn for the Mega Millions game. That last time someone hit the Mega Millions jackpot was April 15. Before rushing out to spend $2 on a ticket, keep in mind that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.5 million. If no one wins the Mega Millions jackpot Friday night, the prize will grow even larger ahead of the next drawing Tuesday night.

Raising Cane's widely publicized first attempt at a win cost $100,000 but wasn’t a success. Now, it's trying again despite the low odds of hitting the jackpot.

Lottery Jackpot FILE - In this Wednesday, July 27, 2022 file photo, Mega Millions lottery tickets are shown at a lottery retailer in Surfside, Fla. A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to over $1 billion after no one matched all six numbers and won the top prize. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (Wilfredo Lee)DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — A $1.1 billion lottery prize will be on the line Friday night as numbers are drawn for the Mega Millions game. That last time someone hit the Mega Millions jackpot was April 15. Before rushing out to spend $2 on a ticket, keep in mind that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.5 million. The $1.1 billion prize is for players who get their winnings through an annuity, paid annually over 29 years.

The jackpot-winning ticket was sold at a Speedway in Des Plaines, Illinois, according to Mega Millions and the Illinois Lottery.

The Mega Millions jackpot has now ballooned to more than a billion dollars, making it one of the biggest ever.

At over $1 billion, the Mega Millions jackpot is among the largest lottery prizes ever up for grabs. It's the latest focus of a long history of lotteries that have been conducted in the U.S. and around the world. Only two prizes have grown larger than the $1.1 billion Mega Millions jackpot that could be won Friday, July 29, 2022. The U.S. Mega Millions and Powerball games can offer bigger individual prizes, but El Gordo’s 2.4 billion euros ($2.4 billion) is the biggest game for total prizes. The top prize is 4 million euros ($4 million).

Can you stay anonymous if you win the Mega Millions lottery jackpot? Some states say yes — while most others require winners to reveal their identity to claim the big prize. Here's key information.

(NCD)The Mega Millions jackpot has increased for the next drawing on Friday, with the grand prize now estimated at $1.1 billion, with a cash value of $648.2 million. >> Read more trending newsThat prize makes it the second largest jackpot in the 20-year history of the Mega Millions game. Mega Millions jackpot: Can you buy lottery tickets online? Mega Millions tickets are $2, but most states allow players to add the Megaplier for an additional $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes. How much money will you get after taxes if you win the Mega Millions jackpot?

Lottery Jackpot Global FILE - In this July 26, 2022 file photo, Gordon Midvale fills out a lottery ticket inside a 7-Eleven store in Oakland, Calif. The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has topped $1 billion — only the fourth time a lottery game has reached such heights. The Eurojackpot game paid a $120 million euro ($121.9 million) prize just last week to someone in Denmark, and a player in the United Kingdom recently won a $230 million euros ($233.6 million) Euromillions prize. The U.S. Mega Millions and Powerball games can offer bigger individual prizes, but El Gordo’s 2.4 billion euros ($2.4 billion) is the biggest game for total prizes. The top-prize is 4 million euros ($4 million).

At over $1 billion, the Mega Millions jackpot is among the largest lottery prizes ever up for grabs.

Lottery Jackpot Bruce Gideos, manager at Pierre's Place, in Chesterfield, N.H., prints out Mega Millions tickets on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. The Mega Millions jackpot has topped $1 billion before Friday's drawing. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP) (Kristopher Radder)DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — One of the nation's biggest lottery prizes got a little bigger Thursday as the Mega Millions jackpot increased to an estimated $1.1 billion. Before rushing out to spend $2 on a ticket, keep in mind that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.5 million. The $1.1 billion prize is for players who get their winnings through an annuity, paid annually over 29 years.

One of the nation’s biggest lottery prizes has grown a little bigger as the Mega Millions jackpot increased to an estimated $1.1 billion.

(NCD)With the Mega Millions jackpot topping $1 billion, interest in the next drawing has skyrocketed. While most people in the country have a lottery retailer within a few miles of their home, Mega Millions tickets are not sold in every state. In a handful of states where Mega Millions tickets are sold in retail venues, you can also purchase tickets online by registering with the lotteries in those states. In Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, you may buy Mega Millions tickets online. In New York, you may buy tickets online by purchasing a subscription with the state’s lottery.

As players pick numbers across 45 states plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands — and dream of a winning jackpot — people need to know how to protect themselves. Here are tips.

The game's expected payout climbed past the $1 billion mark after its last drawing, on Tuesday.

Mega Millions has traded its latter "M" for a "B" twice within the last four years alone.

Orlando City Soccer Club earned the right to host the finals for the U.S. Open after beating New York in the semi-finals Wednesday.

Friday's Mega Millions lottery is one of the highest ever, but the odds aren't in your favor. And, no, you can't buy enough tickets to guarantee a win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are roughly 1 in 303 million. But the question remains: What would you do if you won the lottery?

How much would you owe in taxes after winning Mega Millions' $1 billion jackpot? More than just a pretty penny.

Mixible is Pop Culture, Entertainment News, and a mix of everything in-between.

Lottery Jackpot Unused lottery tickets can be seen inside a 7-Eleven store in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, July 26, 2022. WHAT STATES HAVE THE MOST MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT WINNERS? Since 2016, players have won 40 Mega Millions jackpots, with the fortuitous few scattered through 22 states. California takes the prize for the most Mega Millions jackpot winners during that span, with six lucky players. Notably, population heavyweights Texas and Florida have had few Mega Millions winners since 2016.

Now that the Mega Millions lottery jackpot has topped $1 billion, plenty of people who rarely play the game are considering risking $2 or joining an office pool in hopes of an immense payoff.

The Mega Millions jackpot is now at $1.02 billion after three months without a winner. It's only the fourth billion-dollar lottery prize in U.S. history.

A few people came close to winning it all in Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing​.

Lottery Jackpot Winnings FILE - A lottery ticket vending machine in a convenience store, July 21, 2022, in Northbrook, Ill. The next Mega Millions drawing is Tuesday, July 25. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file) (Nam Y. Huh)DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to $1.02 billion after no one matched all six numbers Tuesday night and won the top prize. Most winners opt for the cash option, which for the next drawing Friday night is an estimated $602.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A few people came close to winning it all in Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing​.

A few people came close to winning it all in Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing​.

No one won the Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday and now it's more than $1 billion. If you've never played before, here are some things to know about how it works.

With no ticket matching all six numbers drawn Tuesday, the jackpot has passed the $1 billion mark for Friday night's drawing.

The $1.02 billion prize is for winners who choose to be paid annually over 30 years. The one-time cash payout option is an estimated $602.5 million.

There were no jackpot winners from Tuesday's drawing, and the prize has ballooned to $1.02 billion, the third largest Mega Millions in history.

A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot ballooned to $1.02 billion after no one matched all six numbers and won the top prize.

The chances are steadily rising that someone will win the massive $830 million Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday night, but will it be you.

Is $810 million worth $2.

Lottery officials have raised the Mega Millions grand prize to $790 million, giving players a shot at the nation’s fourth largest jackpot.

Lottery officials have raised the Mega Millions grand prize to $660 million, giving players a shot at the nation’s ninth largest jackpot.

No one won the Mega Millions jackpot, so you have another chance to become a millionaire.

If you ever wanted to buy a Mega Millions ticket, now might be a good time.

Mega Millions drawing for May 6, 2022 has been delayed indefinitely.

Two lottery jackpots continue to grow and this week combined there's nearly $700 million up for grabs.

Feeling lucky? You may just want to play the lottery. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $430 million.

DETROIT – A four-member suburban Detroit lottery club won a $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot and will receive $557 million after taxes, officials said Friday. The winners claimed their prize weeks after the Jan. 22 drawing and chose the immediate lump sum option. After taxes, the $776 million payment was reduced to about $557 million, the Michigan Lottery said. The $1.05 billion jackpot was the largest in Michigan Lottery history and the third-largest in the United States. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A Casselberry man is now a millionaire. Kenneith Rose won $2 million in a Mega Millions drawing on Jan. 19, according to the Florida Lottery. He matched five of the white ball numbers but did not match the Mega Ball. Lottery officials said he purchased the ticket at the Publix on U.S. 17/92 in Casselberry. AdThe next Mega Millions will be held on Tuesday with an estimated jackpot of $42 million.

The jackpot for the Mega Millions lottery game has grown to $1 billion ahead of Friday night's drawing after more than four months without a winner. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)DES MOINES, Iowa – Someone in Michigan bought the winning ticket for the $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot, which is the third-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winning ticket was purchased at a Kroger store in the Detroit suburb of Novi, the Michigan Lottery said. The Mega Millions top prize had been growing since Sept. 15, when a winning ticket was sold in Wisconsin. Three tickets for a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot were sold in January 2016, and one winning ticket sold for a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot in October 2018.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The jackpot for the Mega Millions lottery game has grown to $1 billion ahead of Friday night’s drawing after more than four months without a winner thanks to bad luck, poor odds and reduced play partially blamed on the coronavirus pandemic. It’s only the third time a lottery jackpot has grown so large, but much has changed since the last time such a big prize was up for grabs in 2018. The odds of winning a jackpot remain the same — incredibly small — but for a variety of reasons fewer people are playing Mega Millions or Powerball, the two lottery games offered in most of the country. After a peak in October 2018, Medenica said sales of the big lottery games dropped about 50%, prompting talk among lottery officials about jackpot fatigue. It’s hard to fathom how unlikely it is to beat odds of one in 292.2 million for Powerball or one in 302.5 million for Mega Millions.

Just who will collect the Powerball prize may never be known: Maryland is one of the states that allow winners to remain anonymous. The Powerball jackpot came only a day after nobody won the $970 million Mega Millions prize, the third-largest prize in U.S. history. The biggest prize was a $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three people in 2016. Most winners opt for cash prizes, which for Mega Millions would be $716.3 million and $546.8 million for Wednesday's Powerball. After the Powerball win, the new jackpot has a $15 million cash value.

The Powerball jackpot is the fifth-largest ever, and it will come only a day after nobody won the even-larger Mega Millions prize, which now stands at $970 million. The biggest prize was a $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three people in 2016. Such a long stretch without a winner is rare but also reflects the incredibly small odds of winning — one in 292.2 million for Powerball and one in 302.5 million for Mega Millions. Most winners opt for cash prizes, which for Mega Millions would be $716.3 million and $546 million for Powerball. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The third-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history is at stake Tuesday night. The Mega Millions prize stands at $865 million, the second largest in the game’s history. If a lottery player strikes big in the next Powerball drawing on Wednesday, it would be the fifth-largest jackpot ever in the U.S.Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is offered in Puerto Rico. Watch the drawings on News 6 at 11 p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa – One of the largest jackpots in U.S. history will grow even larger since there was no winner for Friday’s drawing of the Mega Millions’ $750 million top prize. Mega Millions estimated its next top prize would be $850 million, which would be the third-largest of all time. Lottery players still have a chance to win big with Saturday's drawing for a $640 million Powerball top prize, the eighth-largest jackpot. The estimated cash prize for the next Mega Millions jackpot is $628.2 million. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Bulbul Ahmed is feeling lucky because he’s sold winning tickets at his convenience store in Casselberry. He’s hoping someone will walk out with the Mega Millions prize of 750 Million, one of the largest lottery jackpots in history. Are you going for this MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT? Shukla owns Liquor 2000 in Lake Mary and he too has sold some winning tickets before. The drawing for the Mega Millions is on Friday night.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, file photo, a customer shows off a Mega Millions lottery ticket after purchasing it, in Orlando, Fla. The next drawing for Mega Millions is Friday night, when a $750 million prize will be up for grabs. The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday night, when an estimated $750 million prize will be up for grabs. The drawing for an estimated $640 million Powerball jackpot will be Saturday night. Your odds of winning either jackpot is exceedingly small, at 1 in 292.2 million for Powerball and 1 in 302.5 million for Mega Millions.

Numbers for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing were: 4-19-23-25-49 and a Powerball of 14. | Fifth-largest lotto jackpot up for grabs]The Powerball prize drawing was only a day after no one won a $625 million Mega Millions jackpot, causing that prize to grow to $750 million ahead of the next drawing on Friday night. The Mega Millions prize is now the fifth-largest in U.S. history. The odds of winning it all are incredibly small, at 1 in 292.2 million for Powerball and 1 in 302.5 million for Mega Millions. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

OVIEDO, Fla. – New gun detection technology is being tested at Oviedo High School in hopes of keeping the campus safe. It’s been used at Oviedo High School on a trial basis for the past three months. [TRENDING: Mega Millions jackpot hits $750M | Fla. firefighter charged in Capitol riot | How to get vaccine in Fla. | Gun background checks skyrocket]ZeroEyes is the company behind the gun detection technology, the team includes several military veterans with a background in information technology. ZeroEyes gun detection technology is currently being used in nine different school districts, including schools in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. That new technology has been used at Oviedo High School on a trial basis for the past three months.

To heck with your New Year’s resolution of eating well, Girl Scout cookies are coming back. Starting Feb. 1, the long-time favorite treat will be available for purchase online. A new cookie the “Toast-Yay” makes its debut in 2021. It’s a French toast-inspired cookie that’s dipped in icing. As part of a way to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Girl Scouts have joined forces with Grubhub in order to provide contact-free pickup and delivery orders.

A billboard advertises the jackpots of the Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries, in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Winning numbers for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing were: 4-19-23-25-49 and a Powerball of 14. The Powerball prize drawing comes only a day after no one won a $625 million Mega Millions jackpot, causing that prize to grow to $750 million ahead the next drawing on Friday night. The Mega Millions prize is now the fifth-largest in U.S. history. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Lottery players have a chance to win the largest jackpots in nearly two years as Tuesday's Mega Millions has grown to an estimated $625 million and Wednesday's Powerball to an estimated $550 million. The Mega Millions $625 million jackpot is the largest lottery prize in nearly two years. The winning numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing of the Mega Millions game were: 12-14-26-28-33, Mega Ball: 09. Nearly all jackpot winners actually take the cash option, which would be an estimated $458.8 million for Mega Millions and $411.4 million for Powerball. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday is worth an estimated $625 million, up $10 million from earlier in the day. Mega Millions jackpots start at $20 million and continue to increase until the jackpot is won. [RELATED: Can you increase your odds of winning a scratch off lottery jackpot?] The odds of winning Mega Millions is one in 302.5 million. Those dreaming of instant wishes should remember that the odds of winning Powerball are one in 292.2 million.

The projected Mega Millions grand prize is the eighth largest in U.S. history, and the Powerball jackpot is the 12th biggest. Both still pale in comparison to the largest prize, a $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three players in 2016. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million, and the chances are even worse for Mega Millions at one in 302.5 million. Nearly all winners actually opt for the cash option, which for Mega Millions would now be an estimated $451.8 million and for Powerball is $411.4 million. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Since no one was able to win Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing or Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, there’s a lot of money up for grabs this weekend. Friday’s Mega Millions lottery jackpot climbed to nearly half a billion dollars. Saturday’s Powerball jackpot jumped to at least $470 million. [RELATED: Can you increase your odds of winning a scratch off lottery jackpot?] With Mega Millions increasing Friday to $520 million and $470 million in Powerball, nearly $1 billion is up for grabs between the two lottery jackpots.

Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing increased to $447 million Tuesday after rolling over several times. Central Florida has sold its fair share of winning tickets, so be sure to check out the “luckiest” lottery stores before you decide where to buy your ticket. [RELATED: Can you increase your odds of winning a scratch off lottery jackpot?] Once you purchase your tickets, be sure to tune in to News 6 at 11 to see both drawings take place. What would you do if you won millions of dollars in the lottery?

Well, some financial experts have some pretty clear directions to give when it comes to that. Here are five things experts at Forbes say you should do after winning the lottery. All of these tips will help, but you have to play the lottery to win the lottery. On Friday, the Mega Millions numbers will be picked at 11 p.m., for a jackpot of $264 million. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing,” the website says.