The Mega Millions jackpot just hit a record $1 billion for Friday’s drawing, the second-largest U.S. lottery pool ever, trailing only the $1.59 billion Powerball prize in 2016.
While the odds of winning are a daunting 1-in-303 million — you’re about 20,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning in your lifetime — it does happen. A group of employees at a Wells Fargo branch in California won a $543 million Mega Millions jackpot in July.
Winners are offered two options: take the $1 billion in payments spread over 30 years or as a $565 million lump sum. That’s before taxes, of course.
To win the jackpot, a player must correctly pick six numbers — five white balls from 1 to 70 and the yellow “mega ball” from 1 to 25.
Mega Millions is offered in 44 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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