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Mega Millions Jackpot Nearing $1 Billion as No Winner is Drawn on Tuesday

There is still no winner for the Mega Millions jackpot.

This is yet another week in which the huge jackpot has been left unclaimed. There is no better time to commit to a lottery ticket as the jackpot total continues to skyrocket closer to a billion.

Mega Millions New Jackpot

The last jackpot total was $865 million and the drawing numbers were 10, 19, 26, 28, 50 and Mega Ball 16. There was a pair of $2 million winners in Florida. Additionally, eleven tickets were able to match five of the numbers but fell short for the very last one.

Now, the Friday jackpot will be that much more exciting. The projected total is $970 million. This means the cash-only lump sum would be $716.3 million. This is the third-largest in U.S. lottery history.

The highest amount ever is a Powerball in 2016 that was a total of $1.86 billion. The second-highest ever was a Mega Millions in 2018 with a total of $1.537 billion.

The Mega Millions continues to get closer and closer to that one billion mark. If no one has the matching numbers on Friday, this prize will soar once again.

The Powerball drawing is Wednesday night with a projected $730 million lump sum.

You can watch the live drawing on Friday, here.

What to Do When You Win the Lottery?

While the odds are low to win the lottery (1 in 302 million to be exact), you never know. Someone has to win, after all.

Many people make a lot of mistakes after they win the lottery that can actually make their lives more difficult after.

The first step should always be to sign the back of the ticket. If you were to lose the ticket or someone takes it, game over. However, with a signature and a photo ID, the prize will be yours.

The best step is to remain anonymous. Many states will allow you to remain anonymous so it will help to ask if this is possible. Some states, like New York, however, make the winner public record. The fewer people that know, the better. This might even include people in your life as well.

Another step would be to talk to a tax professional on whether receiving 20 installments over 29 years as an annuity or getting the cash-sum would be a better choice as an individual. The biggest issues to consider are taxes and how much you trust yourself as a spender.

Additionally, it’s best not to immediately splurge on super expensive items, despite winning Mega Millions. Instead, wait at least six months to make these decisions. The best way to use the money is really to pay off all debts. This can be credit card debt, mortgage, or anything else you owe.

Finally, make sure to assemble a team of financial advisors to make some tough decisions in the future. Investments and budgeting will be huge factors in how long the money lasts, so read up on that.

H/T: USA Today, Forbes