Title: Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches Record-Breaking Estimate of $1.58 Billion
Subtitle: The largest lottery jackpot in history up for grabs
Date: [Current Date]
CNN – The Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday night offers a staggering top prize of an estimated $1.58 billion, making it the largest jackpot ever awarded by the lottery, according to lottery officials.
After no ticket matched all six numbers drawn last Friday night, Mega Millions announced that the massive prize is now up for grabs at 11 p.m. ET. The potential winner has the option to receive the full amount through annual payments over 29 years or choose a lump-sum payment estimated at about $783 million, both before taxes, as disclosed by Mega Millions.
If a ticket holder wins the $1.58 billion jackpot, it will surpass the current Mega Millions record of $1.537 billion, won in South Carolina in 2018.
While the Mega Millions jackpot has remained unclaimed since April 18, when the last winner in New York took home the prize, over 36 million winning tickets have qualified for lower prizes in that time. These prizes range from a few dollars to $5 million, including an impressive 62 prizes of $1 million or more, according to the lottery.
The lottery also highlighted the unexpected frequency of jackpot wins this year, stating, “This year started out with six jackpot winners in less than four months – a number far more typical of a full year and indicative of the truly random nature of lottery drawings.”
Some of the notable wins mentioned by the lottery include $1.348 billion in Maine on January 13, $20 million in New York on January 17, $33 million and $31 million in Massachusetts on January 24 and 31 respectively, and $483 million and $20 million in New York on April 14 and 18 respectively.
Mega Millions proudly declared that it is the only lottery game to have awarded four jackpots over $1 billion, adding to its reputation as one of the most lucrative and exciting lotteries in the world.
It is worth noting that the all-time record for the largest lottery jackpot was a staggering $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in California last year.
With excitement and anticipation building, all eyes will be on the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday night as hopeful participants eagerly await the announcement of the billion-dollar winner.