What better way to start 2023 than by becoming a multi-millionaire?
With no winner for the last drawing of 2022, the Mega Millions jackpot will begin the year at $785 million, the sixth highest jackpot in lottery history and fourth highest jackpot in Mega Millions history.
No one matched all six winning numbers on Dec. 30, but there were over 2.7 million winning tickets in the drawing, ranging from $2.00 to $1 million, Mega Millions said.
“There’s plenty of lottery excitement as the year 2023 gets underway,” Mega Millions said in a statement.
If no one wins the next drawing, it may be a good omen for a future huge jackpot: Mega Millions said that each of the last three times the jackpot reached $700 million, it eventually reached $1 billion, most recently in July.
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When is next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 11 p.m. ET. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET.
How do I play Mega Millions?
The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).
When is the deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets?
States have different deadlines, and some let people buy tickets closer to the drawing. Check with your local lottery.
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What are my odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds to match all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1, while the odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350 to 1.
What is the Mega Millions cash option?
If you’re the lucky winner of the Mega Millions jackpot, you can receive your money two ways: annuity or lump sum.
If you choose the annuity option, you get an immediate payment, followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year.
If you choose the lump sum, you’ll get your winnings immediately, but it is heavily taxed and often just above half of the jackpot. The winner of this jackpot would get $395 million immediately.
Contributing: John Connolly and Mike Snider, USA TODAY Network
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
USA TODAY
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