LANSING, January 4, 2011 – The country has Mega Millions fever! Due to a large volume in sales for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing, the jackpot has once again been increased to an astonishing $355 million. The jump makes tonight’s jackpot drawing the second largest in Mega Millions history.
If a player wins tonight’s $355 million jackpot and chooses the annuity payment option, he or she will receive approximately $13,653,846.15 per year for 26 years, less taxes! That breaks down to $1,137,820.51 per month; $262,573.96 per week; or $37,407.80 per day!
If a winner prefers the prize in one payment, the estimated lump sum cash value of the jackpot is $224.2 million, less taxes.
Only one other jackpot has been larger. On March 6, 2007, two winners from New Jersey and Georgia split $390 million.
The last time the Mega Millions jackpot climbed over $300 million was August 28, 2009 when two winners from California and New York split a $336 million prize. The current jackpot has rolled 15 times.
Additionally, players could see their Mega Millions non-jackpot winnings “Megaplied” up to $1,000,000! For just a $1 extra per play, players can select the Megaplier feature which increases their winnings on non-jackpot prizes up to 4 times the original amount. A Megaplier number of 2, 3 or 4 will be drawn before each Mega Millions drawing.
Players can purchase Mega Millions tickets up to 10:45 p.m. for the 11 p.m. drawing.
If the jackpot rolls tonight, Friday night’s drawing with make Mega Millions history. A jackpot worth $480 million will be up for grabs.
Following tonight’s Mega Millions drawing, the winning numbers will be posted on the Lottery’s Web site at www.michiganlottery.com.
Over 94 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2010, the contribution to schools was $701.3 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.
For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at www.michiganlottery.com.
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