Dueling Jackpots: Mega Millions and Powerball Jackpots Each Closing in on $500 Million

Mega Millions LogoThere are two huge jackpots up for grabs this weekend with the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots nearing $500 million each.

The Mega Millions jackpot currently stands at $494 million for Friday night’s drawing. The cash option for the jackpot is $249 million. If a player wins Friday’s Mega Million jackpot, it would be the second largest Mega Millions jackpot won this year. The Mega Millions jackpot was last won in July, when one ticket purchased in Illinois matched the five white balls and Mega ball to win a $1.34 billion jackpot. The prize was the second largest Mega Millions jackpot won in the game’s history.

The Mega Millions jackpot was last won in Michigan in January 2021 by an Oakland County lottery club. The club won a $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot. That jackpot was the largest ever won in Michigan and the fourth largest in U.S. lottery history.

Powerball Logo The Powerball jackpot currently stands at $454 million for Saturday night’s drawing. The cash option for the jackpot is $233 million. If a player wins Saturday’s Powerball jackpot, it would be the third largest Powerball jackpot won this year. The Powerball jackpot was last won in August, when one ticket purchased in Pennsylvania matched the five white balls and the Powerball to win a $206 million jackpot.

The last Michigan player to win a Powerball jackpot was Cristy Davis, of Waterford. Davis won the game’s $70 million jackpot on Feb. 12, 2020.

Players have plenty of time to purchase tickets for both drawings. Mega Millions tickets may be purchased until 10:45 p.m. Friday night, and Powerball tickets are available for purchase until 9:45 p.m. Saturday at Lottery retailers throughout the state. Tickets for both games also may be purchased online at MichiganLottery.com.

Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $2. 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. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball drawings take place at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerball.com. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times to a maximum of $2 million may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.

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