Michigan Lottery players have a chance to win nearly half-a-billion dollars over the next two nights as the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots hit eye-popping amounts. Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is $321 million and Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot is $178 million.
Tonight’s $321 million jackpot is the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot of 2014. In March, two lucky players from Florida and Maryland split a $414 million jackpot. The cash option for tonight’s jackpot is about $194 million.
The Mega Millions game has been lucky for Michigan Lottery players this year. On Friday, June 13, Kelsey Zachow, of Port Huron, won a $66 million jackpot. Four other players each have won $1 million playing Mega Millions. Two of those prizes remain unclaimed. The winning ticket from the Aug. 5 drawing was sold at the CVS Pharmacy, located at 727 28th Street Southeast in Grand Rapids. The winning ticket from the Oct. 24 drawing was bought at the 7-Eleven, located at 35872 Utica Road in Clinton Township.
If a lucky Michigan Lottery player wins tonight’s $321 million jackpot, it would be the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won in the state. On April 22, 2005, a Port Huron couple, Ralph and Mary Stebbins, won $208 million.
Wednesday’s $178 million jackpot is the fourth largest Powerball jackpot of 2014. The largest Powerball jackpot of 2014 came in February when a California man won $425.3 million. The cash option for Wednesday’s jackpot is about $111 million.
Powerball also has been a lucrative game for Michigan Lottery players in 2014. Four players have won the game’s $1 million prize, including three winners in a four-day span in February.
If a Michigan player win’s Wednesday’s $178 million Powerball jackpot, it would be the game’s second-largest prize won in the state. On Aug. 15, 2012, Donald Lawson, of Lapeer, won $337 million. Lawson’s jackpot holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan.
The $1 million winners from the Aug. 5 and Oct. 24 Mega Millions drawings should contact the Michigan Lottery Public Relations Division at (517) 373-1237 to schedule an appointment to collect their big prize. The prize must be claimed at the Lottery’s headquarters in Lansing. Tickets for Mega Millions and Powerball are valid for one year from the drawing date.
Players still have plenty of time to purchase tickets for both drawings. Lottery retailers throughout the state are selling Mega Millions tickets until 10:45 p.m. Powerball tickets may be purchased until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
Each Mega Millions play is only $1. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a “Megaplier” that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times. Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each. A “Power Play” option that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.
