Mega Millions players spurned again as jackpot climbs to $1.55 billion
Updated: 4:11 AM CDT Aug 5, 2023
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TOM. WITH THE MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS NOW UP TO MORE THAN $1 BILLION. AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT IS MARYLAND LOTTERY DIRECTOR JOHN MARK. JOHN, JOHN, I FEEL LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON? THIS SEEMS LIKE CRAZY TOWN THESE DAYS, ISN鈥橳 IT, THOUGH? YES. 1.05 BILLION OR 1 BILLION? 50 MILLION, IF YOU PREFER TO SAY IT THAT WAY. IT DOES SEEM THAT LATELY WE鈥橵E HAD A RASH OF LARGE JACKPOTS AND THE REALITY IS IT鈥橲 JUST THE WAY THE NUMBERS SEEM TO FALL. DEBORAH YEAH, THAT鈥橲 JUST THE WAY THAT IT HAPPENS TO BE. BUT YOU SAY IT SO CALMLY, JOHN, AND YET WE鈥橰E ALL IT鈥橲 FRENETIC AND NUTS OVER THIS. IT鈥橲 MY JOB TO BE CALM WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IT IS A LOT OF FUN TO TO TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, RIGHT? WELL, YEAH, IT鈥橲 REALLY HARD TO STOP DOING THAT. SO LET ME ASK YOU, BECAUSE WE SAID THIS, THAT YOU HAVE SOME GREAT, FABULOUS TIP FOR IF YOU WIN, IF YOU ARE THAT PERSON ON, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO AND THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULDN鈥橳 DO? WELL, THEY鈥橰E KIND OF RELATED. I MEAN, FEEL FREE TO SCREAM AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME FUN AND JOY. BUT WHEN WHEN THAT SUBSIDES, SIGN THE BACK OF YOUR TICKET. SECURE IT IN A PLACE, NOT THE FREEZER BEHIND THE VEGETABLES SECURED IN A PLACE THAT THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. AND THEN SEEK SOME FINANCIAL ADVICE. YOU HAVE 182 DAYS TO CLAIM ANY PRIZE AT THE MARYLAND LOTTERY. SO MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL YOUR YOUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS IN ORDER, BECAUSE WHAT YOU DO NEXT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND GENERATIONS TO COME. SO SECURE IT IN A PLACE THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. WHERE WOULD YOU SECURE YOUR TICKET? WELL, I鈥橫 NOT GOING TO TELL YOU, BUT YOU DON鈥橳 EVEN GET TO PLAY. NO, I DON鈥橳. BUT I GET TO SEE THE JOY AND THE FUN WHEN PEOPLE COME IN AND IT IS LIFE ALTERING TO SEE SOMEONE COME IN WITH THAT MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY. OKAY. THAT鈥橲 VERY SELFLESS. HOWEVER, THERE鈥橲 WHEN IT GETS THIS BIG, YOU MUST JUST GET ITCH A LITTLE BIT THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD PLAY. YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON鈥橳 REALLY. I鈥橫 SORRY. I鈥橫 KIND OF THE MOST BORING PERSON. WELL, LET鈥橲 SEE WHAT YOU TELL ME IN THE COMMERCIAL, JOHN. NO, NO, I GET IT. I GET IT. NOBODY THAT WORKS FOR THE LOTTERY CAN PLAY, CORRECT. ALL RIGHT, SO WHEN IS THE DRAWING? DRAWING IS TOMORROW NIGHT. YOU HAVE UP UNTIL 1045. TOMORROW EVENING. STAY TUNED. DURING THE DAY, WE MAY SEE THIS JACKPOT INCREASE A LITTLE BIT BEYOND WHERE IT IS NOW AT 1.05. SO YOU MAY IT COULD GET TO, WHAT, TOMORROW? WELL, MORE THAN THAT, IT鈥橲 A FUNCTION OF SALES AND HOW THINGS GO. BUT STAY TUNED. CHECK OUT ALL YOUR MEDIA OUTLETS AND BE READY BY 1045 TO GET YOUR TICKET AT ANY OF OUR 4400 LOTTERY LOCATIONS. YOU CAN鈥橳 EVEN DO A SCRATCH OFF NOTHING, JOHN. I鈥橫 SORRY.
Mega Millions players spurned again as jackpot climbs to $1.55 billion
Updated: 4:11 AM CDT Aug 5, 2023
Another Mega Millions drawing, another night without a jackpot winner.The numbers drawn Friday night were: 11, 30, 45, 52, 56 and the gold ball 20.Because no one matched all six numbers and won the estimated $1.35 billion jackpot, the top prize increased to $1.55 billion for the next drawing Tuesday night.There now have been 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was April 18.The $1.55 billion prize would be for a sole winner who chooses the annuity option with payment stretched over 30 years. Most winners opt for a lump-sum payment, which would be an estimated $757.2 million on Tuesday.A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery payouts.The jackpot is so hard to win because of the 1 in 302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Another Mega Millions drawing, another night without a jackpot winner.
The numbers drawn Friday night were: 11, 30, 45, 52, 56 and the gold ball 20.
Because no one matched all six numbers and won the estimated $1.35 billion jackpot, the top prize increased to $1.55 billion for the next drawing Tuesday night.
There now have been 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was April 18.
The $1.55 billion prize would be for a sole winner who chooses the annuity option with payment stretched over 30 years. Most winners opt for a lump-sum payment, which would be an estimated $757.2 million on Tuesday.
A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery payouts.
The jackpot is so hard to win because of the 1 in 302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.