How much was the largest Mega Millions lottery jackpot this year? Who won?
The winning Mega Millions lottery numbers drawn tonight for the jackpot worth an estimated $333 million were: 1, 17, 31, 37 and 54 with the Mega Ball, 31. The cash payout for tonight’s drawing is estimated at $210.4 million. Tonight’s drawing was the second-largest jackpot drawing in Mega Millions history. During today’s lunch hour, lottery retailers were selling Mega Millions tickets at 23,000 per minute, said Dominick DeMarco, spokesman for New Jersey Lottery. “Sales are definitely more brisk today than they have been over the past few days,” DeMarco said. The largest Mega Millions jackpot won in history was $390 million, which was won by ticket holders in Georgia and New Jersey on March 6, 2007. The second largest was $330 million, which was won by Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia just five months later on Aug. 31, 2007. Both times, the New Jersey winners purchased their tickets in Cape May County, according to DeMarco. The Mega Millions game hasn’t seen a grand-prize winner
Mega Millions lottery players across the United States are pulling out the stops for tonights drawing, which now stands as the largest Mega Millions grand prize in 2½ years. Because of the frantic ticket sales rate, lottery officials revised the jackpot earlier today to a staggering $333 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $210.4 million. It is the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot of all time — or third-largest, if you count the $365 million jackpot from May 2000, when the multi-state game was called The Big Game. Should no one win the jackpot tonight, Tuesday’s jackpot would be at least $430 million, easily eclipsing the largest Mega Millions jackpot of all time, which was $390 million split by two tickets back in 2007. To win tonight’s grand prize, players must choose the selected five numbers plus the Mega Ball number. The winning numbers will be published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) within minutes of the 11:00 p.m. drawing (Eastern Time). Most states cut off Mega Millions
