Did anyone win the $695M Mega Millions jackpot?
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There were big Mega Millions wins on December 17 in 2013 and 2019. Will Tuesday’s drawing produce another major jackpot winner?

NEW YORK — The Mega Millions jackpot continues to heat up, soaring to $825 million for Friday’s drawing. 

If won on that level, it would be the largest December prize and the seventh largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. 

The jackpot has been increasing since its last win on September 10th in Texas when it reached $810 million. There were no matching tickets in the recent drawing, although there were several million-dollar winners announced from Tuesday’s draw.

California, Louisiana, and Oklahoma each had tickets with all five white ball numbers correct, making their owners millionaires. Additionally, a ticket in North Carolina, with the 4X Megaplier option on Tuesday, earned $4 million.

So far this year, only three Mega Millions jackpots have been won, with one being a $1.1 billion winning ticket bought in New Jersey in March, which remains unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have up to a year to claim their prizes. The highest Mega Millions jackpot of $1.6 billion was won in Florida in August of the previous year.

Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024

The winning numbers for Tuesday’s drawing were: 56-66-67-68-69 − 18 MegaBall, with 4x MegaPlier.

When a winner matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out as an annuity over 30 years, or a lump sum cash payout of roughly half the size. Winners almost always take the cash option.

Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million. 

What time is the Mega Millions drawing?

Mega Millions drawings take place Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.

Largest Mega Millions jackpots in history

  1. $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 – Florida
  2. $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 – South Carolina 
  3. $1.348 billion – January 13, 2023 – Maine
  4. $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 – Illinois
  5. $1.128 billion – March 26, 2024 – New Jersey
  6. $1.050 billion – January 22, 2021 – Michigan
  7. $825 million (est) – December 20, 2024
  8. $810 million – September 10, 2024 – Texas 
  9. $656 million – March 30, 2012 – Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
  10. $648 million – December 17, 2013 – California/Georgia
  11. $552 million – June 4, 2024 – Illinois

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