RELEASE DATE: 7/7/2016
The Mega Millions jackpot has reached the level of significant public and media interest, and the resulting strong sales have pushed the estimated jackpot for Friday, July 8, to $540 million ($380 million cash).
“The excitement is palpable as this is the largest American lottery jackpot since the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January,” said Paula Otto, Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery and Lead Director for the Mega Millions group. “Sales are expected to grow stronger right up until Friday night’s drawing.”
The jackpot has been growing for four months, having last been won on March 8 in Washington. The only other jackpot won this year was on January 8 in New York.
The record Mega Millions jackpot is $656 million – three tickets shared that jackpot on March 30, 2012. Just behind that is the $648 million jackpot split by two winners on December 17, 2013. Those are the only two Mega Millions jackpots in history higher than Friday night’s estimated prize.
If won, Friday’s estimated jackpot would be the seventh largest American lottery jackpot in history. The top ten:
| Game |
Amount
|
Date
|
Winning Tickets
|
| Powerball |
$1.586 billion |
1/13/2016 |
3-CA, FL, TN |
| Mega Millions |
$656.0 million |
3/30/2012 |
3-IL, KS, MD |
| Mega Millions |
$648.0 million |
12/17/2013 |
2-CA, GA |
| Powerball |
$590.5 million |
5/18/2013 |
1-FL |
| Powerball |
$587.5 million |
11/28/2012 |
2-AZ, MO |
| Powerball |
$564.1 million |
2/11/2015 |
3-NC, PR, TX |
| Mega Millions |
$540.0 million (est) |
? |
? |
| Powerball |
$448.4 million |
8/7/2013 |
3-MN, NJ(2) |
| Powerball |
$429.6 million |
5/7/2016 |
1-NJ |
| Powerball |
$425.3 million |
2/19/2014 |
1-CA |
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