The Mega Millions jackpot rolled over last night to $304 million, bigger than all but 11 jackpots in U.S. lottery history.
Even before Friday's drawing, though, that prize could grow if sales exceed projections, as happened several times over four days in early January. After no one hit for $242 million on Dec. 31, the prize was set at $290 million. Before the next drawing, that was raised to $330 million, then $355 million. Once sales were tallied, the annuity payout was revised to $380 million.
The winners, in Idaho and Washington State, split $240 million cash - the most in U.S. lottery history. (For more giant jackpots, see link to "Biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history" at right.)
The only bigger annuity prize for a U.S. lottery was the March 2007 Mega Millions jackpot of $390 million.
The odds are good both records could fall if no one hits Friday night, with the first $400 million jackpot a possibility.
Friday's estimated cash payout - as of this morning - is $193.6 million.
Last night, 26 players, including one in Pennsylvania, came close to taking the top prize, matching the first five numbers - 1, 14, 35, 50 and 53 - but not the Mega Ball of 43.
Most will win $250,000, but if any of those players also had the Megaplier multiplier option, their prize would automatically become $1 million. Prizes differ under the pari-mutuel system used in California, which sold five of the second-tier tickets.
New York sold nine, and Georgia, Michigan and Texas each had two, while Maryland, Massachusetts, Arizona, Minnesota and Nebraska had one apiece.
Where the Pennsylvania ticket was sold should be known later today.
Powerball. Tonight's jackpot is worth $101 million for the annuity, $51.5 million for the cash.
Tickets for both major multistate lotteries are available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and about three dozen other states.
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