Powerball and Mega Millions Jackpots Worth a Combined $999 Million
Lottery players throughout America and beyond are looking forward to this week’s Mega Millions and Powerball draws with huge anticipation after the jackpots rose to a combined $999 million. The Mega Millions jackpot is worth an estimated $654 million for the draw on 16th October, with $345 million to be won in Powerball the following day, and both values could even increase again before the winning numbers are drawn.
23 Successive Mega Millions Rollovers
The Mega Millions jackpot hasn’t been won since 24th July when $543 million was claimed in California by a group of 11 co-workers, one of the biggest draws in the lottery’s history. Twenty-three successive rollovers later, and the jackpot has surpassed that figure, reaching $654 million. It is the second biggest jackpot in Mega Millions history, and the fourth-largest in American lottery history.
The record Mega Millions jackpot was claimed in March 2012 when three tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland split $656 million. If the jackpot rolls again on 16th October, it will eclipse the record to become the biggest in Mega Millions history. If the jackpot is won by a single ticket holder on 16th October, however, they would have to make the decision of choosing annuity payments or opting for a cash lump sum worth an estimated $372 million.
Gordon Medenica, Lead Director of the Mega Millions Consortium and Director of Maryland Lottery and Gaming, said: “It’s so exciting for our players, and all of us, to see the Mega Millions jackpot getting so close to an all-time record level. With a little luck, we may still break that record. Jackpot fever is definitely sweeping the country!"
Depending on where the Mega Millions jackpot is eventually won, the winner - or winners - might have to make the decision whether to go public or remain anonymous. There are 44 states - plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia - that play Mega Millions, but the anonymity option is only available in Ohio, Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota and South Carolina. All other states are required by law to release the name of winners as public information.
There have been three other Mega Millions jackpot winners this year - $451 million was won by Floridian Shane Missler in January, followed by a New Jersey ticket holder who claimed $533 million in March, and the Ohio-based 'ABC XYZ Trust' collected $142 million on behalf of a winner in May. You could become the lottery’s fifth - and biggest - jackpot winner of the year, by choosing your numbers for this historic draw from various locations around the world.
17th Biggest Jackpot in Powerball History
Similar to Mega Millions, Powerball hasn’t been won for 18 draws since New Yorker Nandlall Mangal won $245.6 million on 11th August. Two ticket holders were close to landing the $320 million jackpot in the draw on 13th October, matching all five numbers but falling just short of the nine-figure windfall after failing to land the Powerball number. This resulted in the jackpot rolling over yet again, and the cash lump sum option is valued at $199 million ahead of this Wednesday’s draw for $345 million – the 17th largest jackpot in the game’s history.
Last week’s Powerball draw was moved from Tallahassee, Florida, to Urbandale, Iowa, because of Hurricane Michael, but it is expected to return to The Sunshine State ahead of this Wednesday’s draw. Good luck to all you Powerball and Mega Millions players this week, and remember to let us know on Twitter how you got on!