$291 MILLION: Mega Millions lottery jackpot enters top 25 list

Comment #49

KY Floyd — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 23:27:16 GMT

The bump to $297 million is just a parlor trick, enabled by a change in the interest rate that would be paid on the annuity if a winner actually opted for the annuity. If the interest rates hadn't chnaged they wouldn't have announced such a small change until offering the final tally at drawing time. The change in interest rates just gave them an excuse to inflate the fake jackpot a bit more.

Comment #48

LottoMetro — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:36:57 GMT

This is because the annuity factor increased (1.85 to 1.869), which decreases the cash value required to fund the annuity jackpot. Prior cash support was only $155.6 million, not the $157.2 million advertised, which is why the cash value increase seems very small.

Comment #47

dearlord — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:17:06 GMT

6 million jump in the annuity with only an 800 thousand jump in the cash value? The after-tax value for the cash jackpot falls to 32.1% from 32.7% of the advertised annuity prize.

Comment #46

Saylorgirl — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 19:57:41 GMT

I do believe that the jackpot just took at jump to $297 million. Cash Value is now at $158 million

Comment #45

stunna6036 — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 14:04:31 GMT

Good luck everyone. I'm in it to win it.

Comment #44

Jon D — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 13:55:29 GMT

It's really the annuity that they've messed with, and the cash option is actually slightly improved.

The annuity for new MM has been pumped up relative to the cash value, by going to 30 graduated payments instead of 26 fixed payments. This difference between the cash value and the annuity value is called the annuity factor. And due to the new annuity structure, it is higher now than it was before. Currently about 1.85 for the new MM versus about 1.45 previously with the old MM.(dependent on m... [ More ]

Comment #43

DC81 — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:09:21 GMT

Don't get me wrong I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at winning the JP or even one 100th of its size but it still bugs me how much they've neutered the cash value with the changes they've made. Of course I'd completely forget about that if I won.

Comment #42

Simba774 — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 05:54:42 GMT

Won't happen.

Comment #41

golfer1960 — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 03:56:41 GMT

I don't know DC, I'm pretty excited with the cash value of this jackpot.

I can see it all now.....

Pricey but affordable at only $2.675M.

Comment #40

Viking Orayk — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 19:43:55 GMT

nailed it ... that's what the matrix change was all about.

Fewer and single big jackpot winners , more lower tier prize winners!

With that dollar you're renting your dreams of what if ........that ticket represents

a hope and prayer, that your long shot comes in.

I don't like the new matrix either.......but I love the idea of what if

so I'll be renting my dream until the drawing come Friday.

Good luck to all

Comment #39

Goteki54 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:06:58 GMT

I couldn't help not to burst out laughing when I saw a headline story on Philly.com

Mega Million jackpot 2nd biggest in 2 years thanks to lousier odds'.

The sub headline of the story validates MM strategy is working.

Recent changes seem to be helping the lottery game compete with powerball .

Usually it's MM which is the after thought, now it's PB. I think at the end of the day, players really don't care about the crazier odds then before with MM, al lthey care about is... [ More ]

Comment #38

DDOH937 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:36:15 GMT

I actually thik its HIGHLY possible DC81. Remember, once it get to 400mil which it will within the next couple draws, the madness ensues. Days of 100mil plus jumps are assured. In addition with the media hype and holidays upon us, if no one wins the next 2/3 draws, i really dont see how it doesnt make it to 800mil/1bil. And if by Chrismas there's no winner. Then 1.3 billion or so is almost guaranteed for early Jan. Remember that when it climed to 656 mil over a year ago, it got there with over 2... [ More ]

Comment #37

Jon D — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:14:40 GMT

Your numbers are off because you're cross multiplying different prize categories.

Also, when you say $2 sales Mega do you mean Megaplier? Because the 2,252,869 0+1 winners already includes the Megaplier side-bet winners. The 196,145 number is how many of the 2,252,869 were Megaplier, not in addition to.

But anyway, you can't multiply the 1/15 odds with the 0+1 winners, you would have to use the corresponding odds for that prize 1/21.(actually 21.39 to be precise) That gives you 2,252,869... [ More ]

Comment #36

KY Floyd — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 06:54:38 GMT

The article failed to mention that this jackpot is number 1 on a different list. That's the list of most rollovers before reaching $290 million.

Comment #35

KY Floyd — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 06:51:58 GMT

Interesting. The odds for the top prizes are steep enough that if the number of winners is even slightly off from what probability suggests, that using those numbers for a simple calculation of how many tickets were sold can be wildly inaccurate. I'm surprised that the number of 0+1 winners results in such alarge error. For some reason, 3 must have been an unpopular choice this time around.

Comment #34

KY Floyd — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 06:47:55 GMT

If it bleeds it leads. When's the last time your evening news started out with a story that said Family Of Four Makes It Home Safely After Thanksgiving Dinner At Grandma's House

Comment #33

DC81 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 05:37:59 GMT

That's not going to happen with only six rolls left.

Comment #32

DC81 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 05:34:53 GMT

291M would be a lot more exciting if the CV is where it was before they decided to screw the game up.

Comment #31

dpoly1 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 02:50:56 GMT

Is there a Flying Lady in my future

Comment #30

lottobrain — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 01:51:53 GMT

Actually I hadn't seen any figures on sales, but just did a basic odds of winning a prize times the amount of winners. I used the Mega ball winners for $1 sales + the $2 sales Mega ball winners which was:

2,252,869 + 196,145 = 2,449,014 x 1/15 odds of getting Mega ball. This equals: 36,735,210. I just rounded up a couple of million. However, if you mulitply by their listed overall odds of winning anything....1/21, you would get 51,429,294. Based on sales and odds getting 5-0 though, there sho... [ More ]

Comment #29

Arrowhead — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 00:29:34 GMT

Well, three quikpicks each with megaplier will have to do it for me.

Comment #28

Toronto — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:56:51 GMT

Where did you get that figure? It says $49 million in sales

Comment #27

lottobrain — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:42:06 GMT

They only sold about $38 million worth of tickets, and it looks like they dumped nearly all of the sales into the jackpot to try to get people playing.

Comment #26

DDOH937 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:34:11 GMT

True. But lets not knock 'em too much. We all have our shortcomings....some just happen to be worse and more visible than others.

Comment #25

DDOH937 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:32:32 GMT

I like the way you think SHOWMONEY. I'm right there with you on this one. I've been waiting for the first Billi pot for a long time. Hope it doesnt dissappoint. Lets watch this mega climb and climb before sending a the luckiest person in American to the bank. Good luck to all...but not too much luck, afterall i'm still in it to win it

Comment #24

ShowMeTheMoney$ — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:06:41 GMT

Those people who lost their jackpots and ended up broke had some serious character flaws. Some of which may or may not include greedy family members and/or friends, a lack of education, a lack of sound legal and financial advice, a tendency toward showing off and bragging, a proclivity towards strippers, drugs, alcohol, expensive cars, shopping, etc., and the inability to say NO

Comment #23

ShowMeTheMoney$ — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 21:56:28 GMT

A billion dollars for a Christmas jackpot would be really cool! That's my Christmas wish. I want to be the sole winner of the billion dollars Mega Millions jackpot. C'mon Santa. I've been good this year! I'm ready for early retirement

Comment #22

hsg2000 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 21:37:10 GMT

WHO CARES

Comment #21

delS — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 21:08:50 GMT

Someone (of course I see myself being the blessed winer!!!!!) or someones, will have an awesome Christmas and new year. I think MM has a few more rolls in it. It will crack the top 10 in jackpots and cash values.

Comment #20

Jill34786 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:54:14 GMT

I see that West Virginia is on the annuity list @ #19 that must be Jack Whittaker, that doesn't show on the CV list, I guess it did'nt make the top 25.

Jack Whittaker's cash value prize was $170,505,876 so it should be ranked #17 on the CV list.

Comment #19

haymaker — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:01:32 GMT

I see that West Virginia is on the annuity list @ #19 that must be Jack Whittaker, that doesn't show on the CV list,

I guess it did'nt make the top 25.

Also I see Jersey on the list 2 times in 2007, if I remember right these 2 wins were in cape may county (next south to me)

and have not anything bad about those winners.

Comment #18

DDOH937 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 17:30:47 GMT

True. Maybe there's some correlation between those that seek and bask in the limelight and their ultimate fate

Comment #17

Toronto — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 17:27:01 GMT

Well Edwards did show up on a couple shows/documentaries, so that kept up to date with him after he got some stardom

Comment #16

rdgrnr — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 17:26:40 GMT

At least Indiana is on the list.

Try and find Tennessee.

We're way overdue.

Waaaaaaaaaay.

Comment #15

Saylorgirl — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 17:07:46 GMT

I agree! I am trying to do my share

Comment #14

DDOH937 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:56:56 GMT

I think the media only Highlights the Ones that dont fare that well. Who Knows. Hopefully whoever they are, their winnings have been able to be a blessing to themselves and others.

Comment #13

DDOH937 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:54:17 GMT

Lets Keep This One Going. Very Nice Christmas or New Years Girft Awaits the Lucky One/Ones. 1 BILLION PLUS maybe

Comment #12

haymaker — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 15:28:33 GMT

I see that David Lee Edwards JP is listed @ #22 and @ #19 on the CV list

The winners he split w/are from Delaware, Minnesota and New Hampshire and we never heard how these peeps made out.

Oh and Delaware is anonymous.

This JP should move up this list quickly

Comment #11

pickone4me — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 15:00:11 GMT

Haven't seen any big wisconsin wins. Wonder when that will happen

Comment #10

alekk — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:49:29 GMT

I had all the six winning numbers on three different tickets!

Sigh..

Comment #9

dpoly1 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:37:14 GMT

And,

Here,

We,

GO!

A party in Pennsylvania! I will purchase the best Iced Tea available if I win!

maybe it WILL be Christmas in December LOL

Comment #8

golfer1960 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:35:58 GMT

Yo Trax, I don't think you're sufficiently motivated. $157.2 Million is not enough to get you in the game? Your goal must be to purchase the Empire State Building or something.

Comment #7

Jon D — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:29:30 GMT

Yeah, it takes more to get people excited nowadays, with jackpot fatigue setting in.

But looks like it may have finally turned the corner, with higher than expected sales, headed into higher growth phase. People may get their Christmas wish: a billion dollar JP by 12/24 draw! (if it makes it that far)

We are past the distractions of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so it's clear sailing from here on out. Onward and upward

Comment #6

hearsetrax — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:19:19 GMT

I think I'm going to wait one more draw b4 playing again ........

but its getting interesting

Comment #5

Piaceri — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:00:56 GMT

I'm on it! Trying to get the jackpot for Texas! Woot! Gonna roll my $3 win from last night.

Comment #4

helpmewin — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:41:14 GMT

if it will help the pot grow i will buy 4 tickets today the best i can do before this ice storm hits

Comment #3

mypiemaster — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:32:51 GMT

This jackpot is not growing fast enough. Only a $34M bump for crying out loud.

Comment #2

sully16 — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:28:25 GMT

I think this one will be number one, Good luck everybody.

Comment #1

helpmewin — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:26:36 GMT

((($291 MILLION))) here we go, Indiana is slacking

$291 MILLION: Mega Millions lottery jackpot enters top 25 list

Lottery Post — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:18:32 GMT

By Todd Northrop

Lottery players across the United States will be lining up at lottery retailers for their chance to win Friday's massive $291 million Mega Millions jackpot, after nobody won Tuesday's $257 million grand prize.

The cash value stands at a staggering $157.2 million.

With the new Friday jackpot, both the annuity jackpot and lump-sum cash value enter into the top 25 United States lottery jackpots. (See full list below.)

Friday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation o... [ More ]