By Todd Northrop
Last-minute shoppers can potentially give the gift of a $206 million jackpot this Christmas, because the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game did not produce a winner Friday night.
Lottery players across the United States are buying their Mega Millions tickets in preparation for Tuesday's massive $206 million drawing.
The cash value stands at a staggering $151.9 million. Lottery players typically think of the cash value as roughly half of the annuity estimate, but this Mega Millions cash value represents 73% of the annuity estimate.
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 15 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on Nov. 4 as a $12 million grand prize.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
In the latest Mega Millions drawing that took place Friday night, there was no jackpot winner, but 31 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $250,000 prize: 5 from California, 1 from Connecticut, 1 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Indiana, 3 from Massachusetts, 3 from New Jersey, 5 from New York, 3 from Ohio, 2 from Tennessee, 3 from Texas, 1 from Virginia, 1 from Washington, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The 5 California winners will each be awarded prizes of $155,663, because California awards all prizes with a pari-mutuel formula, which calculates the prize amount based on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners in each prize category. All the other Mega Millions states award fixed amounts for all non-jackpot prizes.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $33 million from its previous amount of $173 million. The cash value was raised by $22.4 million, from its previous amount of $129.5 million.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place Tuesday evening at 11:00 pm Eastern Time.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 42 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The latest state to join Mega Millions, Louisiana, became the 42nd Mega Millions state during the current jackpot run-up, on Nov. 16.
For a complete set of game descriptions, results, history, and all questions regarding Mega Millions, lottery players are encouraged to visit USA Mega (www.usamega.com), a Web site devoted to the Unites States's two multi-state lottery games, Powerball and Mega Millions.
The Mega Millions winning number will be published at USA Mega Tuesay night, minutes after the drawing takes place.
Nice roll! Good luck to all lottery players for next Tuesday's drawing! I think I'll buy my tickets early this round.
All I want for Christmas is $151.9 million!!! That would be such a great Christmas and birthday gift for me (yep I am a Christmas baby!)!!! How about it Mega Millions numbers? Can you show me some love and give me a wonderful gift? I thank you in advance!!!
One million will make me very happy for Chrismas
me thinks am gonna put off getting anymore tickets till after the 1st of the year
Yes, can some one explain to me why the MM Cash Option is always more than the PB Cash Option when they are at the same jackpot amount?
Happy New Year !
the gift of a $206 million
I'm greedy.I'll settle for nothing less than the whole jackpot!
Merry Christmas
and good luck to everyone!
I'm hoping to be Louisiana's first MegaMillions jackpot winner and a jackpot like this would be great for that!
NOT ME!! Will take the $600 I hit last night, 3+ mega ball with Megaplier!!!
I think Santa gonna stop by my house and give me my Christmas present this year..
...Go Niners.
Anyone that does not think that 35% tax on this jackpot is enough is full of the Greed of Childish Socialist Envy! Happy New Year!
Everyone knows that it is time for PA to get the first Mega Millions win since joining!
i think this may happen cause on the annuity option the pb is invested for a longer time period,like 26 yrs.
go jets
go denver
EVERYBODY DO NOT WORRY I GOT THIS ONE!!!!
This is from USAMega.com:
Why is the Powerball cash value less than Mega Millions?
You may have noticed that when Powerball and Mega Millions have the same annuity jackpot amount, the cash value for Mega Millions is higher. But from an accounting perspective, you are looking at it backwards. Most people think of the cash value as something that is calculated based on the annuity amount, but in fact the lotteries start with the cash value. The advertised annuity jackpot amount is calculated based on the cash available for the jackpot, plus whatever interest will be generated over the annuity years. So in reality, the question you should be asking is, "When the Powerball and Mega Millions cash values are the same, why is the Powerball annuity jackpot higher?" And the answer to that question is that Powerball uses an annuity formula that lasts an additional 4 years, plus the annuity increases its payout every year. So Powerball's annuity formula will generate more income over its lifespan than Mega Million's will.
Btw, I'll be winning the $206,000,000 jackpot on Tuesday.
I AGREE>>>>>>>>>!
$206 MILLION give's psyko TICK "FEVER"
Happy New Yeear>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!!!!!
uttttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Todd............................................
31 Players won the second prize level. I wonder what's been the greatest number of second place winners without a jackpot winner.
Cletus, you selfish hound! LOL, I am just joking. Something is telling me that even if you win the entire jackpot, you would still share with those whom you hold near and dear.
Good Luck Cletus and Merry Christmas.
Peppy, good observation! Hmm, makes you wonder, right?
dpoly, as a Texan true and true, we are taking dips on that one. LOL
Good Luck everybody, don't forget the powerball tonight, the amount is staggering as well.
Nah, free. You need to sit this one out.
can i hve da other 205 mil then... lol
Boy I would like to be Oregon's first mega millions winner this tuesday. Good luck to all who play!-weshar75
My husband is also a Christmas baby, and next Friday is his last day of work he'll be retiring so he said this would make a wonderful birthday retirement present. Now all we need is the six numbers that they draw.
way to go kapla congrats on your hit .. thats a sweet and smooth one for xmas ...
True,sandia.But those that I hold near & dear are few.Wife,daughter and grandson.Thats all.
yes Sandia. I could have swore someone would win when all the numbers were under 32 meaning they could all be birthdates. That must explain the high number of second place wins.
Whoa! was it a quic pic or your numbers? I know if they are numbers you play often then you must have thought you won a whole lot more the first time you looked at the results.
Good for you for adding the megaplier
Way to go Cletus, I am sure your wife, daughter and grandson are all you need to brighten your win even more, good luck, I am rooting for you, I can take the smaller Powerball win.
In the June 29, 2004 Mega Millions draw there were 40 second tier prize winners and no jackpot winner. In the next draw the jackpot was won and there were 37 second tier prize winners.
In the April 9, 2002 Mega Millions draw there were 35 second tier prize winners and no jackpot winner. In the April 12, 2002 Mega Millions draw there were 44 second tier prize winners and no jackpot winner. In the next draw the jackpot was won and there were 77 second tier prize winners and 3 jackpot winners.
In the May 5, 2000 Mega Millions draw there were 43 second tier prize winners and no jackpot winner. In the next draw the jackpot was won and there were 72 second tier prize winners and 2 jackpot winners.
In the April 2, 1999 Mega Millions draw there were 37 second tier prize winners and no jackpot winner. In the next draw the jackpot was won and there were 70 second tier prize winners and 1 jackpot winner.
My groups are playing both the Mega Millions jackpot and Lotto Max jackpot next week. The Lotto Max jackpot is $50 million plus 10 $1 million prizes all cash and tax free.
Good luck.
Good luck but groups don't win very often. Very seldom. Single players win the overwhelming amount of jackpots.
It can happen (a group win) but it's very rare. You'd be much more likely to win playing by yourself, you should try it.
Good luck!
thanks for the info Mario.
Wow. How ironic they let a ticket win powerb all Xmas eve.I'm willing to bet megamillions will be won new years eve. This all makes for a better news story..happy endings in 2011
MM draws on Fridays, which would put it as 12/30 or New Year's Eve Eve.
Good luck to everyone! I'm looking to take this one home to Texas. ( Take me home to Texas that's where I'm meant to be... )
Piaceri, darling, great minds think alike. Yeap, Texas wants dips on this one, I do not mind sharing with you. He he he.
Merry Christmas all and good luck and may one of us get the gift of lady luck this Tuesday Night.......
Or it could be won on Tuesday the 27th, which would be New Year's Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve.
Ridge, I ain't gonna object to that, my hillbilly brother from another mother.......LOL (I meant that in a nice anecdotal way). Good luck to you ridge oh, and a Merry Christmas to you and a fantastic New Year.
LOL ridge, sounds like you are studdering.
I'd like to see it roll at least one more time before I win it.
sandia, I don't share (although I appreciate your generous offer to share your win). My older sister got all the generosity and left me and my little sister bereft. We giggle about it all the time. Sorry sugar.
No hard feelings Piaceri (if you ain't sharing, I might need to think long and hard if I want to share with you) Lol. Either ways, best of luck to you, yeah we have that in my family too, I am the generous one, while my brother has three important people in life to think about mostly "Me, Myself and I" lol......
Did I say good luck, dear? I think I did........
That would be an awesome New Year's gift! But these days, illinois rarely win these things, and my luck pretty much sucks. Oh, well.
My tickets are on the way from a friend in CA. Comon FL join Mega Millions~~~
I have a good felling about this....daddy needs a new pair of shoes, LOL!!
Alright guys here are the six lucky numbers w've been looking for; i had a dream last night and since i have a big heart, i will share with u.
3-9-14-19-51:42
GOOD LUCK........!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rdgrnr,
It's not more or less likely, I'd guess less groups win because way more tickets are sold to individuals than groups.
As for me - I'd never really want to play in a group because of the fact that if I win, I win less (which isn't a big deal since it'd be a lot) and the possibility of a lawsuit in the case that somebody feels that they "deserve a share."
No one needs that much money. I'll take the win and then have fun giving most of it away.
Good luck everyone.
I do.
who dat ? say they gonna beat them saints. ?
I would like to see it roll a few more times but with the cash option being 73% of the annuity its a good amount right now. Based on a year ago I believe the cash option now would represent the jackpot advertised in the mid 240's
How many tickets is everyone buying for the big draw tonight? I'm thinking a 'lucky' seven. Also curious how many folks get the megaplier. Good luck all!
I always get my regular numbers, plus an easy pick; if the pot swells to over 100 million, I get an additional easy pick. I'm not convinced that buying hundreds of extra tickets guarantees you that much better a shot. So tonight I'll spend 3 dollars, with no megaplier. Have tried megaplier, power play for Powerball, and the the "sizzler" for Hot lotto. Maybe one out of twenty plays I'll get a small return of 10-20 dollars, but hey you never know.
In August of "07" I played my regular numbers for Powerball + an easy pick ($2.00 investment), and I was pleasantly surprised two day's after the Saturday drawing, that I had all five white ball numbers (2- 23- 24- 27- 36), PB 31 ON MY EASY PICK! I scored $200k
, had I the correct PB (3), I would have hit the jackpot for $115 Million. 
Needless to say I believe in a mixed portfolio of personally picked/easy pick combinations.
Good luck 2-nite everyone!!!$$$
Whew $100 million after taxes. I usally get 3 tickets max. i do one manual the rest QP per ticket. how about yall?
mcginnin56, $200,000 is quite a hit! Been reading Lotterypost a long time (just decided to join) and never heard of any member nailing one that high. If you're that lucky once, I'd say you have a great shot at being lucky twice...
Lightening can strike twice Arrowhead, but as the old saying goes you've got to play if you want the pay. I may never hit big again, but the prospect that waiting just one more day and everything can change your life forever is well worth the risk!!! Best of luck Arrowhead
I'd like to buy several office and commercial buildings. So I guess I really need that $100mil.
BTW, I am playing with my dream numbers. Wish me luck.
Thanks, you as well.
Always said, the higher that jackpot the more I could help family, friends, charities. In Ohio, you clear $104.8 mil after taxes. I'd keep about 45-50% of that, give the rest away.