Mega Millions: Jackpot now over $1 billion
(NewsNation) — Hang onto those stocking-stuffer lottery tickets.
The Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed $1 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Christmas Eve. That means the estimated jackpot for Friday's drawing is $1.15 billion, potentially the fifth-largest jackpot in the game's history.
Overall it's been an unlucky year for lottery players. The Mega Millions jackpot has only been won three times, the fewest wins in a single year since the game began.
That's not shocking given the probability. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.
To put that in perspective: You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning or attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park (1 in 3.5 million).
The jackpot was last won in Texas on Sept. 10. Since then, there have been 29 drawings but nobody has taken home the grand prize.
Tuesday's jackpot is the seventh largest in Mega Millions history, according to the lottery.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 each.