$586 MILLION: Mega Millions jackpot climbs toward a new record

Comment #75

Gleno — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 15:14:41 GMT

Thanks Ashabug 725 for clearing up that multiplier prize. Did not know it only doubled the second tier. wasted a dollar on the one ticket that was purchased with the multiplier. No big deal. Only hit the the number seven on another ticket without the multiplier.

Comment #74

Jill34786 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 21:49:51 GMT

110 second prize winners for a $25 million jackpot is indeed pretty wild! Can you imagine if there were 500 or so 2nd prize winners this time due to numbers from fortune cookies?

2nd place would pay out more as a whole than the grand prize...MUSL would cringe at the thought.

Comment #73

ashabug725 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:18:27 GMT

The jackpot wouldnt be doubled, just the second tier prizes-- but the jackpot did get raised again

Comment #72

bubu123 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:36:02 GMT

What!? 200 mil short? This is not even a record jackpot? Then I just don't want to win it! (JK, Yes, I do want it)

You have to respect the ingenuity of the people came up with the new rules, only a few month later of introducing it, the very first jackpot since the start of the new game brings this much of attention to MM.

Comment #71

KY Floyd — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:09:44 GMT

$550 milion was the original advertsied amount for this drawing. The actual starting point is the finishing point for the last drawing. I never saw a final total over the $425 million that was advertised, but based on sales I expect it was somewhere close to $440.

If they do sell 400 million tickets that will add a bit more than $130 million to the cash value, which means about $242 million for the advertised annuity. That would give us a final total of about $680 million for the annuity valu... [ More ]

Comment #70

gocart1 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:14:24 GMT

.......Holy cow

Comment #69

dpoly1 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:11:31 GMT

I would settle for this Jackpot LOL!

There would be some Jingle in my bank account

Comment #68

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:04:04 GMT

Big difference

Comment #67

LottoMetro — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:59:42 GMT

If there is no winner tonight, Friday's Mega Millions jackpot will start at $950 million annuity with $510 (?) million cash.

Good luck.

Comment #66

bubu123 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:55:37 GMT

I just try to process how does the amount of sales affect the jackpot: $550 million was the carry-over from last week. $400 million in sales, x% of that goes into the prize pool, 65.154% of the prize pool is allocated to the jackpot prize. This jackpot is going to be a record one. I hope that someone (me, obviously) will win today. I think if the jackpot keeps rising it would just backfire later making people think 'What's the jackpot this time? $150 million? Pff, that's nothing!'.... [ More ]

Comment #65

wildbill7459 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:50:52 GMT

Sweeeet.... thats about $238,169,280.00 CASH ......after 39.6% fed tax... no state tax included

Comment #64

Jon D — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:49:05 GMT

Wow, nice draw day bump! That's close to what I expected. That's roughy about $350M in sales expected, and could be even more by draw time.

Comment #63

BuyLow — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:47:58 GMT

Bigger is better! Lol

Comment #62

pickone4me — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:47:47 GMT

Just as long as the usual states don't win the jackpot, like always happens. I think it's possibly biased towards certain states and cities.

Comment #61

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:46:12 GMT

I knew it was going to get bigger but i never thought it would be that BIG

Comment #60

Todd — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:42:21 GMT

Jackpot estimate just raised to $636 million officially the second-highest in history

Comment #59

Gleno — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:15:48 GMT

Wonder how many duplicate numbers are generated by the machine's quick- pick program for Mega- Game and Powerball?

If you buy at least 15 tickets and pick your own mega numbers, with mega ball 1-15 for each respective ticket, you will no doubt hit the mega ball, but the other 75 numbers from the top is still a huge challenge. .

Now for the real interesting point. If someone gets all the numbers and selected the multiplier option, then their winning would be doubled!!!

What a load of c... [ More ]

Comment #58

golfer1960 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:13:38 GMT

Ridge, your wisdom and humor is unmatched. You made my day

Comment #57

mypiemaster — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:51:11 GMT

Pardon me, ladies and gentlemen. I just bought the winning ticket.

Comment #56

Jon D — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:44:24 GMT

Yeah, when the lottery tells you what you coverage of combinations is, that is the chance of a JP winner.

You can always estimate/calculate the coverage of combos from sales or projected sales, which always some lesser percentage, but that is just a theoretical estimate. Only the lottery knows exactly what numbers have been played and what the actual coverage of combinations is.

If sales for today's draw are over $400M, way above the 259M odds, that would give almost an 80% chance of a win... [ More ]

Comment #55

bubu123 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:29:39 GMT

I misunderstood of the meaning of the coverage. I thought that it meant the number of sold tickets.

Comment #54

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:21:25 GMT

Comment #53

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:20:05 GMT

Comment #52

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:19:35 GMT

That's NICE

Comment #51

rdgrnr — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:14:36 GMT

Yes, I think I can say with reasonable certainty that you would be the only one wanting it to roll 'til Christmas Eve and then you win it.

I'm almost positive about that.

Comment #50

Jon D — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:13:30 GMT

No, nothing was forgotten. Combinations = chances. 70-80% coverage of combos means 70-80% chances of winning.(you can't get a lower 50% from that) The duplicates on top of the coverage, which alway exists, doesn't increase or decrease chances of a JP winner, only the quantity of payouts.

Comment #49

Teddi — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:26:51 GMT

Well hell. I wish you'd told me that before I bought my tickets.

Comment #48

brees2012 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:27:11 GMT

Heard it could reach $670 million ..........wait and see

No need for you to buy your ticket , I have the winning numbers (lol

Comment #47

FrankBurns — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 11:40:50 GMT

Ok

How about 316 million people win a Dollar.

By the time taxes were taken out = 65 cents each

Comment #46

Teddi — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 11:16:26 GMT

Then those people should should for the 2nd tier and play their local state lottery. If you think this JP is too much for one person, the simple answer is do not play it. The people who have no issue winning that amount can continue to shoot for the JP. It's great when people are given a choice and not limited by one person's view.

Comment #45

bubu123 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 06:08:23 GMT

Yeah, the El Gordo has crazy jackopts all the time. But it has only one drawing a year at Christmas, and I remember that one was devided between almost 2000 winners.

Comment #44

Goteki54 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 06:01:53 GMT

I hope ticket clerks across the country get some rest tonight, tomorrow is going to be a very busy day for them. If the jackpot isn't won tomorrow, then Friday will most likely break or come very close to the all time MM record!! Right now the Mega Milllions Jackpot is trending number 3 on Yahoo, I think the word is out. lol

Comment #43

Guest — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:55:34 GMT

Does Spain have Largest lottery jackpot giveaway? 900 million dollars

Comment #42

Kumo — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:55:33 GMT

LOL!!! I can see the MUSL folks going nuts with a that many 5+0 winners.

Powerball once yeilded 110 second prize winners in a drawing.

Quoting Wikipedia:

The Powerball drawing on March 30, 2005 produced 110 second-prize winners. The total payout to these winners was $19,400,000, with 89 winners each receiving $100,000. The other 21 winners received $500,000, as they were Power Play selections.

MUSL officials initially suspected fraud or a reporting error. However, all 110 w... [ More ]

Comment #41

OldSchoolPa — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:48:29 GMT

That's a very socialistic view. No it is much more interesting for there to be a single winner come into mondo money. With Barack running country baroke (broke for you edumacated folk), I think I would take cash value and claim before year end. Toodles....

Comment #40

OldSchoolPa — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:42:54 GMT

My feet are itching...does that mean I will be walking into a huge pile of Mega Millions money this week? And no I do not suffer from athlete's foot

Comment #39

Jill34786 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:36:04 GMT

I would like to see that as well.

316 people win the SECOND place prize of at least $1 million.

The jackpot would be best served by going to one or two lucky ticket holders.

Comment #38

bubu123 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:24:36 GMT

Don't forget that people can play the same numbers on the different tickets, so the chance of winning still somewhere between 50-80%. But this also means that there is a chance for multiple winners and a shared Jackpot.

I don't even try to guess the amount of the Jackpot for Friday - in case there will be no winner this Tuesday.

And I think we will start seeing Jackpots like this, since MM just introduced the new system last October changing the odds from 1:150million to 1:260million and t... [ More ]

Comment #37

delS — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:12:14 GMT

Well stated!!!!! Dream big, and swing for the fences.

Comment #36

ashabug725 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:01:26 GMT

No offense, that's something only a grinch would say!!!! Why not just shoot for second tier with mega play then? 2 million... Wouldn't it be just a little more after taxes? While I would be more than ecstatic to even win $100, I play to win the jackpot whether it be $20,000,000 or 586+!!!!---------- but--------- that would be EPIC

Comment #35

DDOH937 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 04:35:39 GMT

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! ONE WINNER.

Comment #34

mightwin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 04:11:43 GMT

Nope, one jackpot winner

Comment #33

FrankBurns — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 04:09:01 GMT

I'd rather see 316 people win $1.000.000

Comment #32

DDOH937 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 03:55:10 GMT

Am I the only one who REALLY REALLY REALLY wants this thing to roll until Christmas eve???? Oh, and then I win of course

Comment #31

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 03:48:22 GMT

Comment #30

BBLL — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:49:52 GMT

How combinations are in Mega Millions

Comment #29

Piaceri — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:48:48 GMT

There's a couple different reasons for that.. beginning with you need to wash your hands with hot soapy water and ending with you're coming into some money.

You pick.

Comment #28

gocart1 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:46:33 GMT

Comment #27

Piaceri — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:46:11 GMT

Whooooo!!! Bumpin' up!!!

singlewinnersinglewinnersinglewinner

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

Comment #26

delS — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:29:54 GMT

Rolling until Chfristmas Eve would be a joy to watch the frenzy hit the country. Then I could wake up on Christmas and God for blessing me and thank this great country for contributing to the best Christmas!!!!!!!!! lol

Comment #25

One-Day — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:11:55 GMT

My hand itches.

Comment #24

Arrowhead — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:57:29 GMT

Obviously not likely to happen. But two more rolls to Christmas Eve (next Tuesday) would be...something to behold.

Comment #23

Jill34786 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:52:23 GMT

I like your story line. That would certainly stir up those who play every draw.

Good luck to you as well

Comment #22

Jon D — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:51:14 GMT

Ms. Otto was describing the last draw on Friday at roughly 50% of combinations covered.

For Tues draw, could be anywhere from 70% to 80% coverage, we won't know for sure until tomorrow. That means 70-80% chance of a winner.(very likely

Comment #21

Sosaman66 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:38:11 GMT

That doesn't make any sense, since the last drawing was ON Friday. Kinda hard to buy tickets for this drawing since Friday's hadn't even taken place yet. And as for advance draw tickets, I hardly think enough people buy those to cover ~130 million combinations.

Comment #20

Teddi — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:29:53 GMT

Good luck, Jill.

I tried to buy tickets this morning when I stopped for gas but their machine was down. Either that was a sign or it'll make for a great story when I win.

I tried to buy tickets from a particular place at a particular time but their machine was down. So the next day I went somewhere else and they sold me the winning ticket. I would sincerely like to thank the first place for not having a working machine which allowed me to buy the right ticket at the right time somewh... [ More ]

Comment #19

Nikkicute — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:24:40 GMT

As of Friday, players had bought enough tickets to cover roughly half of the 259 million

possible number combinations.

I think it might hit, at least 3 winners from 3 different states.

If not, whoa

Comment #18

Jill34786 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:19:43 GMT

That would certainly be nice!

I still have a 3-person pool ticket from Colorado and bought 2 picks during my short visit in Maryland. I will get 2 more when I get back to Florida tomorrow.

Tried getting my husband to get a ticket but he absolutely refused...even for one stinking dollar.

Comment #17

Greg2117 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:14:12 GMT

Now would be the perfect time for anyone who has a winning ticket to cash it in. When all the attention is on mega millions. You can slip under the radar with not much attention, and people will forget about you during the big jackpot frenzy.

Comment #16

haymaker — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:56:08 GMT

LOL Sully16

Seems like you and I have the same main objective

Comment #15

sully16 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:47:26 GMT

I got a couple already, would like to call in rich wednesday

Comment #14

mightwin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:41:37 GMT

Powerball has the worlds largest jackpot??.......huh

Comment #13

Teddi — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:22:41 GMT

Hmm. I say $625M by midday. After that, no idea. I do know that if it rolls, Friday will be insane. I think people will be plunking down their paychecks and bonuses to buy a crapload of tickets.

Comment #12

dpoly1 — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:19:55 GMT

Just the right size for me LOL!

I will have high tea if I take home this prize

Comment #11

OldSchoolPa — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:12:19 GMT

I hate to be Buzzkill Bud (side kick to Debbie Downer), but it really does not matter what the jackpot amount is except if you are holding the winning ticket. My heart is not beating none the faster with the increased jackpot level.

Comment #10

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:10:42 GMT

WHERE YOU FIND THAT CAT

Comment #9

helpmewin — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 00:08:15 GMT

I Got my one ticket today also. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

Comment #8

Sosaman66 — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 23:26:34 GMT

Mega Millions has its own world record to beat, not Powerball's. Powerball hasn't cracked $600M (yet), whereas Mega Millions owns the record at $656M. Could be pretty interesting to see if this cranks above $700M...

I'm a procrastinator, I'm buying mine tomorrow. Also, my company's holiday party is tomorrow. This could be a VERY fun night

Comment #7

KillerDemo — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 23:23:36 GMT

I hope it hits a Billion

Comment #6

sandia — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 23:02:26 GMT

Hello everyone, I have been incognito for a spell!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, $586 million is NOTHING to sneeze about! I will take that in a heartbeat. However, if MEGAMILLIONS is looking to surpass the POWERBALL frenzy of the highest jackpot in world history, they better ramp up that climb more rapidly.....

Comment #5

Win$500Quick — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:50:17 GMT

I got my 1 ticket.

Comment #4

hearsetrax — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:40:40 GMT

should be a most curious Wednesday morning hehehehe

Comment #3

delS — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:39:16 GMT

I dont think it will be hit tomorrow, and the crazy Lottery Frenzy will be CRAZY RIDICULOUS

Comment #2

Jon D — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:21:05 GMT

The March 2012 record MM JP:

Started at $500M

Upped to $550M day before

Revised to $650M on draw day, finally ending up at $656M

This run:

Started at $550M

Upped to $586M day before

Revised to ????? on draw day, finally ending up at

Comment #1

dallascowboyfan — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:18:38 GMT

$586 Million Woo Hoo

$586 MILLION: Mega Millions jackpot climbs toward a new record

Lottery Post — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:10:57 GMT

By Todd Northrop

As tickets for the multi-state Mega Millions jackpot pump out of lottery machines across the United States, the question on lottery players minds is just how high will the jackpot go before the drawing on Tuesday night.

One lottery official says that Mega Millions ticket sales easily could push Tuesday's jackpot above last year's record $656 million prize.

No ticket matched the six numbers needed to win Friday's $425 million prize. It was raised Saturday to $550 million... [ More ]