$355 MILLION: Mega Millions lottery jackpot second-biggest of all time

Comment #123

Pinkpansies — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:26:22 GMT

Okay, correction there are two winners. One is from Idaho, the other is from Washington, this is according to powerball.com.

Comment #122

savagegoose — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:10:26 GMT

07-20-27-42-44, Mega Ball: 09 | No Matching Numbers

03-10-21-30-43, Mega Ball: 27 | No Matching Numbers

06-10-20-40-50, Mega Ball: 12 | No Matching Numbers

03-04-08-11-16, Mega Ball: 01 | Matched 2 numbers + 0 Mega Balls (no prize)

04-16-29-43-50, Mega Ball: 42 | Matched 1 number + 1 Mega Ball ($3.00

Comment #121

Steven948 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:07:45 GMT

just read it one winner from idaho one from texas one from maryland

Comment #120

Pinkpansies — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:51:53 GMT

It looks like there were 3 winners, one from Idaho, not sure about the others. Here's a link.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40921264

Comment #119

keepitreal — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:27:29 GMT

Did anyone win? Do you think anyone from here hit jackpot? It look like not alot of posts from drawing till now. I mean there not alot of posts.

Comment #118

Todd — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:19:14 GMT

Try this.

Comment #117

Nino224 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:18:10 GMT

Where's the list of the ten biggest jackpots in US history. I know I saw it around here somewhere.

Comment #116

barbos — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:17:39 GMT

Maybe I did. I'm afraid to check my tickets until official announcement.

Comment #115

Nino224 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:13:21 GMT

Did anybody win

Comment #114

barbos — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:06:12 GMT

480 is apparently just an official conservative estimate, I'm more than certain it would storm well beyond 500.

Comment #113

CowboysFan — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:42:48 GMT

2+1 for me. Dang it

Comment #112

Todd — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:16:02 GMT

Wow, that was the first time I've ever seen my network bandwidth literally pegged at 100% continuously. It was like a heart monitor that goes flat-line, except at the top of the scale.

Even now, more than an hour later, the bandwidth is at around 95%, which is why LP is a bit sluggish.

USA Mega was up rock solid for the whole time, which I'm pretty happy with. I think if it rolls I have an even better way to speed things up, but I guess we'll find out if that will be necessary in an hour o... [ More ]

Comment #111

NightTrain1234 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:09:22 GMT

I bet $14 but didn't get more than 1 number on a row. I can't go to sleep until I know if there was a jackpot winner. Did you hear the host on WGN say if there was no winner, it would be $480 million next time!?! Wow

Comment #110

Blackdave — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:59:51 GMT

Im sure someone from newyork/newjersey or cali will hit it....they allways hit it

Comment #109

joshuacloak — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:43:18 GMT

same here, now we wait, i hope it rolls so bad, thro lotterypost is already lagged out, thro sure running musty lol

if it rolls, the next drawing is a dooms day draw for us all

thro usamega sure going strong, guest todd made sure one 1 site has the power to stay up, the other can lag a bit lol

Comment #108

butterflykt — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:26:06 GMT

Just checked my tickets...didn't win anything. I hope it rolls over again...i'm gonna keep trying.

Comment #107

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:43:46 GMT

11:00 pm

Comment #106

Spare Change — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:41:01 GMT

What time is the mega millions drawing tonight? It says 11pm on their website, but the station here in ct says 11:22. I'd like to watch it live.

Comment #105

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:40:54 GMT

I am guessing atleast 50% of the country population got a ticket or tickets in there possession

Comment #104

PrisonerSix — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:31:23 GMT

I wish we had MegaMillions here in Louisiana. If it hits a half billion, I may make the drive from Baton Rouge to Orange, Texas to get some tickets. It will have to be for Tuesday's drawing though, since I work during the week and would have to go on the weekend. When the agreement to sell both games in the same state was finalized, it was mentioned in local media Louisiana wasn't going to join. If it breaks a half billion, I wonder if Louisiana will rethink that position.

Comment #103

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:30:23 GMT

I was born ready!!! normally i wait until the next morning to check my tickets but i guess i will check them afther the drawing, besides if i win i win if i do not win i will try again

Comment #102

gopher07 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:27:06 GMT

lets bring this money back to lima ohio.........

Comment #101

butterflykt — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:22:28 GMT

forty minutes til the drawing!!!! Is everyone ready

Comment #100

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:14:30 GMT

Thanks alot Todd for this information. Everyone knows N.Y. and California ruled 2010 i do not have nothing against them states, but i rather see a smaller state that economy and lottery sells is suffering a chance this new year.There are states that have not won a single jackpot in years.

Comment #99

jimjwright — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:13:00 GMT

Do you think Lottery Post will set a record all-time high of online users? Currently 7800 and growing!

Jimmy

Comment #98

Todd — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:06:03 GMT

Here's a news report about tonight's jackpot.

Something to pass the time while waiting for the numbers to be drawn

Comment #97

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:00:03 GMT

Cool, I am going to pass out $100 bills to foster children

Comment #96

Spare Change — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:00:03 GMT

Me too.

Comment #95

Piaceri — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:56:23 GMT

That's cool, as long it is just us. I have plans. I'm gonna throw $100 bills out of a helicopter in the most unusual place I can find. I was thinking maybe over a college football stadium during a game. Or maybe I'll use a WWI biplane.

Comment #94

Justwinbaby — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:55:30 GMT

There's a plan in place that has been seven years in the making.

Comment #93

savagegoose — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:45:34 GMT

i just did some math on the lump sum payment.

sitting in a bank account here in oz, that would pay $24k a day in interest earnings

Comment #92

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:43:55 GMT

We must have the same numbers

Comment #91

Keystone — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:43:50 GMT

GL to all players tonight!

Keystone

Comment #90

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:41:33 GMT

i am expecting alot of 2nd place winners, something is always better than nothing.

Comment #89

Piaceri — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:41:01 GMT

Three hundred fifty-five million. And you know the final will be more. Whoa. Oh the things I'm gonna do with my winnings!

Ya'll back off my lottery jackpot.

Comment #88

JWBlue — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:38:36 GMT

When the jackpot was $390 million, there were 43 people that matched 5 of 5.

My guess is that sales will be higher for this drawing so there should be about the same about of 5 of 5 winners.

If the winning numbers are low, then there could be more.

Comment #87

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:33:58 GMT

I would not be shocked at all if there was a one ticket winner who went down the same path as Jack

Comment #86

ttech10 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:25:41 GMT

It's amazing how many people on this board have the same numbers, haha.

Comment #85

ttech10 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:25:01 GMT

freeobama pointed it out, I just quoted it. Had quite a surprise when I went there.

Comment #84

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:22:13 GMT

I like the motivation but i am holding the signed ticket in my hand.

Comment #83

Guru101 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:19:42 GMT

I won the $355 million.

Comment #82

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:16:38 GMT

That will be nice, even if there is three winners tonight each person check will have at least 118 millions on it

Comment #81

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:09:43 GMT

Yea i can understand all the traffic because of a jackpot of this magnitude,there are of a lot of non lottery players playing

Comment #80

joshuacloak — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:09:12 GMT

ttech nice catch, i love how they know their about to get their butts murdered and already trying to brace for whooping of epic scale,

also JWblue i think 1 person could win it all, we finally have someone to Beat Jack the walking disaster for single largest winner ever

Comment #79

JWBlue — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:09:12 GMT

I predict there will be two if not three winners tonight.

I doubt one person walks away with all that cash.

Comment #78

ttech10 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:05:56 GMT

Due to unprecedented traffic, our regular web site has been

temporarily minimized to provide access to the greatest

number of players possible.

Winning numbers will be posted shortly after the drawing.

Yea, I wonder how bad their site is going to get hit later if they've already had problems with traffic.

Comment #77

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:05:40 GMT

I hope someone win who plays the game not some random person who never play pull out a dollar and win, there are loyal mega millions players who play every or almost every drawing regardless of jackpot size for years

Comment #76

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:59:22 GMT

I just looked at the Mega Millions official website,Never seen that posting before

Comment #75

JWBlue — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:58:45 GMT

So how much are these states making from this drawing alone?

According to the California Lottery website, 33% of lottery money goes to education after prizes and expenses.

Comment #74

joshuacloak — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:53:29 GMT

welcome to jackpot nation fever,it has the power to make even sane lottery players spend away

also the state lottery's are laughing all the way to the bank

i bet if it rolls, louisiana and florida will feel so left out......... maybe they even think about joining a good thing for once, as boy, they are missing out,

thro texas and arkansas are loving dumb louisiana losing sales to their border stores , way to go , your lost is their gain louisiana

and georgia loving florida lottery ta... [ More ]

Comment #73

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:50:47 GMT

I can see that easily happening considering that this is a large multi-state game.Individual lottery players are buying tickets by the bundles

Comment #72

JWBlue — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:47:44 GMT

Lets say that rate was happening every minute after noon. Cut off time for selling tickets is 10:45.

645 minutes until cut off time. That is 154,800,000 tickets in that time period.

A safe assumption would be that two thirds of tickets are bought on the last day.

Total sales will be around $225,000,000.

Comment #71

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:40:23 GMT

That is CRAZY

Comment #70

zinniagirl — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:38:56 GMT

CBS just posted that tickets at one point today were selling at the rate of 240,000 per minute.

WOW

Comment #69

petergrfn — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:02:34 GMT

Bad Idea! The state of California like most states and the Federal Gov't is Broke! When it comes down to Crunch time do you think the state would rather pay off their FireFighters/Teachers/Police Officers or a Millionaire lottery winner? I say take your money and run.....Whether you're 18 or 80. My state is said to be atleast a Billion in the whole and the Gov is talking about lots of Cuts being made.....A politician would rather cut about anything than Medicare payments or Social Security......... [ More ]

Comment #68

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:57:56 GMT

You Never know, It can happen to you

Comment #67

zinniagirl — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:53:29 GMT

I finally gave in and bought a ticket. I am amongst those who think someone or someones will win tonight. Why not us?

Anyway, at this moment in time, everyone of us holds the winning ticket! Good luck and have fun dreaming

Comment #66

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:26:33 GMT

If i Win half it will be $177.5 millions before taxes I will not complain

Comment #65

ttech10 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:18:06 GMT

I did that to my tickets when the jackpot was lower but now that it's this high, no way am I going to collect without using a trust. Maybe if there's another winner and they get a lot of publicity I'll collect myself, since at least here you can get minimal publicity .

Going out to pickup another $5 ticket but this time with annuity. $8.8 million a year... wow.

Comment #64

hearsetrax — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:16:17 GMT

stop yer killing me ........ personally I know whar I'd get mine from

Comment #63

dpoly1 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:10:22 GMT

Signed my tickets ........... all $7 worth .......... or maybe $145,000,000 worth (after taxes

Comment #62

freeobama — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:08:03 GMT

I just heard on the news that if there is 1 winning ticket sold it will be the largest payout in U.S. history

Comment #61

barbos — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:05:09 GMT

Well, if no one hits tonight, it is guaranteed to pass 500 by only God knows how much. Good luck everyone.

Comment #60

PrisonerSix — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:43:19 GMT

No time for me to drive to the Texas border to get a ticket, since Louisiana is a Powerball only state.

If it hits $500 million, I may just have to get up on Saturday or Sunday morning and do just that

Comment #59

freeobama — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:42:45 GMT

There is no rules against the winner wearing a mask is there

Comment #58

gonnawinwatchme — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:40:00 GMT

Don't worry, I'm going to remain as anonymous as possible.

Comment #57

gonnawinwatchme — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:37:01 GMT

snip , I sure am excited to win this tonight!! I've got my bags packed in my head and imaginary plane tickets to Florida! Congrats and good luck to all winners and players!!!

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Comment #56

CutlassBob — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:15:07 GMT

$355,000,000.00

Comment #55

Todd — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:14:20 GMT

Check here: http://www.usamega.com/mega-millions-jackpot.asp

Comment #54

dphillips — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:12:14 GMT

Sully16, have you thought about what you would do in your retirement

Comment #53

DETLotteryPlaye — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:06:26 GMT

How much is the cash option after taxes in Michigan

Comment #52

Todd — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:01:40 GMT

I like your style.

Comment #51

ecnirP — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:58:35 GMT

In a daring act of both prescience and certitude, I just signed the backs of all my Mega Millions tickets for tonight's drawing.

Comment #50

PERDUE — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:55:43 GMT

Just give me my $342 million

Before Taxes

During Taxes

and

After Taxes

and y'all can have the rest.

All I need is just a measly $342 million to fund my gamblin habit. lol

Comment #49

freeobama — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:46:09 GMT

I spent a total of $37 this drawing $35 quick picks $2 my own picks!! i hope i win something tonite,2nd place $250,000 would be awesome

Comment #48

DETLotteryPlaye — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:44:01 GMT

Holy wow

I have 4 tickets

Comment #47

KY Floyd — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:29:17 GMT

More than likely, the jackpot will be won.

We're definitely in the territory where the odds are that we'll see at least one winner, but there's still somewhere around a 20% chance that there won't be a winner. Not that I'd have any realistic personal use for the extra money, but I'd really like to see it roll just to see how crazy things might get.

Comment #46

C0w Pi3 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:17:09 GMT

I don't see it getting past this drawing, but if it does.. HOLY COW.

Comment #45

freeobama — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:16:16 GMT

I think i would hang around for a while to soak up some attention thenlike a thief in the nite

Comment #44

dpoly1 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:11:24 GMT

I am going to re-retire

Comment #43

freeobama — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:01:24 GMT

I am just waiting to drive an hour to lottery headquarters in the morning

Comment #42

JWBlue — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:58:09 GMT

Last drawing had $121,000,0000 in sales. The jackpot increase was $42,000,000. This increase is $113,000,000.

Extrapolating, that would indicate sales for this drawing of over $240,000,000. The odds are 1 in 176,000,000. More than likely, the jackpot will be won.

Comment #41

dk1421 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:33:06 GMT

I admit it, I have bought more tickets than I normally do. Usually I spend about $5 if it's over $100 million.

This time, well, I figure we've bought around $40 worth. That's about the most we've ever spent, but considering the jackpot, this is the right time to be doing it.

I just hope I'm supporting my own win

Comment #40

joshuacloak — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:28:59 GMT

todd you are the man for getting us this info,

no doubt thats a understatement of it really be by draw time LOL

they should just market it as 500m to start and the sales will support it, news media half a billion dollar jackpot will makes the sales go Wild

but 300m plus in cash, holy beep thats a lot of cash

the irs will be laughing at the winnersno doubt, it be pure highway robbery

man i never wanted to see a jackpot roll like i do now, even thro the odds are agiant it at th... [ More ]

Comment #39

starchild_45 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:26:42 GMT

here is my plan

current meg jackpot

355000000 divided by

29 =

---------------

12241379.3103448 * yearly installments (could be wrong on the years)

12241379.3103448 - federal and state taxes

35 %

---------------

7956896.55172412 *

7956896.55172412 - amount my wife and I share

85 %

---------------

1193534.48275862 * yearly amount for me to be stupid

1193534.48275862 x

29 =

---------------

34612500 * stupid amount for me for 29... [ More ]

Comment #38

Genome — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:21:44 GMT

I like this idea.

Comment #37

dpoly1 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:20:53 GMT

This new member needs to go elsewhere ............ this is a friendly site!

I would love to win so that this superior person can be angry what ever else ..............

Comment #36

dallascowboyfan — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:20:23 GMT

WOW!!!! this is so CRAZY

Comment #35

RJOh — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:19:54 GMT

Sounds like cross selling and adding a bunch more states selling the game without a matrix change didn't effect the potential size of the jackpots.

Comment #34

hjones — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:17:11 GMT

I would like very much to win tonight, however, if I don't and the jackpot hits this new high, this $480Mil will inevitably be raised to probably about $580Mil by the drawing.

Wow. That would be about $237Mil in the bank after those annoying taxes. Holy cow

Comment #33

management — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:11:56 GMT

Remember it doesn't matter if the jackpot is a billion dollars, your still 350 times more likely to get hit by lightning than hit the jackpot.

Comment #32

Todd — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:04:32 GMT

I got a note from a lottery today indicating that if nobody wins tonight, the Friday jackpot will be $480 million, with a cash option of $303.2 million.

Comment #31

starchild_45 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:03:26 GMT

now you are talking. 500 million would be nice. i have my fingers crossed that it will get past this drawing. if not may i get a piece of the drawing. i would love the big prize but i will take a 3 dollar win. hahahahah.

Comment #30

DC81 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:54:08 GMT

It still amuses me how Powerball jacked up their odds yet MM is still the one coming close to a record breaking jackpot.

Comment #29

dphillips — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:53:15 GMT

I'll take a million dollars, thank you

Comment #28

joshuacloak — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:48:57 GMT

my god, its all over all major news websites local

this one thing catched my eye:

after a conference call between lottery directors, Mega Millions officials decided at about 11:40 a.m. to bump up the prize to $355 million, based on the brisk sales.

so now the diff lottery directors are having conference calls over how big this thing is

, i love to hear that conference

#1 director like: dude sells are out of control, we need to rasie it again

#2 director: omfg ever time we

Comment #27

DC81 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:47:44 GMT

No way in hell it's not getting hit tonight, especially with how many tickets are apparently being bought.

Comment #26

ressuccess — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:45:55 GMT

I hope somebody wins the Mega Millions Jackpot in this draw.

Comment #25

B$Rizzle — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:34:07 GMT

Would definitely be cool to see it hit $500 Mill which I am sure it will if this one rolls...But I will be more than hapy to take the $355

Comment #24

starchild_45 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:28:29 GMT

i hope no one wins because i want to see a new record. i would love to have the new record or a piece of it. please no winners and lets go for a record.