DES MOINES, Iowa – A giant Mega Millions lottery jackpot got even larger as officials raised the massive prize to $1.28 billion on Friday, just hours before the drawing.
The winning numbers? 13 - 36 - 45 - 57 - 67. Mega Ball: 14.
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The last time someone hit the Mega Millions jackpot was April 15.
If no one wins the Mega Millions jackpot Friday night, lottery officials expect the prize will grow to $1.7 billion for the next drawing Tuesday, making it the nation’s largest lottery prize.
Keep in mind that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a staggering 1 in 302.5 million.
The estimated $1.28 billion prize is for players who get their winnings through an annuity, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners take the cash option, which for Friday’s drawing is an estimated $747.2 million.
The jackpot is the latest focus of lotteries that have been conducted in the U.S. and around the world for centuries.
Across the U.S., state lottery systems use lottery revenue to boost education, tourism, transportation and much more. With the big Mega Millions jackpot, state officials are hoping increased national interest in securing the top prize will result in more funding for their own causes.