Mega Millions Climbs to $1.15B: Biggest Holiday Jackpot in December History

This holiday season’s hottest gift might not arrive under the tree—it could show up in your bank account. The Mega Millions jackpot just hit an eye-popping $1.15 billion after nobody clinched Tuesday’s grand prize on Christmas Eve. Those hoping for a belated holiday miracle will have another shot on Friday, and it might be one of the most lucrative drawings ever seen in December.

It’s the seventh time in Mega Millions history that the total has passed the billion-dollar mark, and it’s also a nice reminder that while winning is rare, it’s definitely not impossible. The Florida prize of $1.602 billion still holds the record for the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever, claimed earlier in 2023. Prior to that, equally massive jackpots have landed in places like South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Maine, and New Jersey, fueling the dreams of would-be billionaires everywhere.

If you’re considering buying a ticket (or maybe you’ve already received one as a holiday gift), remember the sobering odds: 1 in 302,575,350 for nailing the jackpot. Not exactly great, but the game does feature better odds of 1 in 24 for winning any sort of prize. And with tickets costing just $2, a lot of folks decide it’s worth the gamble.

The winning numbers get drawn at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Fridays, so all eyes will be on that moment this coming Friday. Maybe your state will be the next to celebrate, since Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, plus Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands. Fun fact: half of every $2 ticket sold stays in the state where it’s purchased, so even if you don’t strike it rich, there’s a boost for local programs and projects.

No one snagged the billion-dollar prize on Christmas Eve, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still dream big. If you get lucky this week, you’ll stand to walk away with $516.1 million in cash—or hold out for all those annual payments for the full $1.15 billion. Will someone’s post-holiday payday become 2023’s biggest story? We’ll find out Friday night. Good luck!