Has anyone won the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot?

WASHINGTON – The Mega Millions jackpot is at $1 billion in a Christmas Eve drawing after a series of drawings in recent months failed to produce a top prize winner.

A win at this level would be the largest December win and the seventh largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.

The jackpot has grown since September 10, when it was last won in Texas with $810 million. No ticket matched the winning numbers from the most recent drawing, although Friday’s drawing produced several million-dollar winners.

Tickets sold in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania had all five white ball numbers correct, netting their owners a million dollars.

Only three Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year, including a $1.1 billion winning ticket purchased in New Jersey in March. This prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings. The highest Mega Millions jackpot ticket – $1.6 billion – was sold in Florida in August last year.

The winning numbers for Friday’s drawing were: 11-14-38-45-46 − 3 MegaBall, with 3x MegaPlier.

If a winner matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball, they have the option of having the entire jackpot paid out as a pension over 30 years, or a lump sum cash payout of around half. Winners almost always choose the cash option.

Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million.

Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

1. $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 – Florida
2. $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 – South Carolina
3. $1.348 billion – January 13, 2023 – Maine
4. $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 – Illinois
5. $1.128 billion – March 26, 2024 – New Jersey
6. $1.050 Billion – January 22, 2021 – Michigan
7. $944 million – December 24 (estimated)
8. 810 million dollars – September 10, 2024 – Texas
9. $656 million – March 30, 2012 – Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
10. $648 million – December 17, 2013 – California/Georgia
11. $552 million – June 4, 2024 – Illinois