Mega Millions jackpot rises to $1.15 billion | Dec. 24 winning numbers and prizes

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot reached the one billion mark for the Dec. 24 drawing, but it has now surpassed it after no one bought the winning ticket. The jackpot now stands at $1.15 billion for the Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 draw.

To enter the drawing, players must purchase a ticket in one of the 47 jurisdictions where Mega Millions is available. This includes most states in the country, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Participants must choose six numbers: five numbers from 1 to 70, and one number from 1 to 25.

To win the jackpot, you must match all six numbers that appear on the white balls and the gold ball in the draw. However, players with fewer correct numbers can still receive prizes ranging from two to one million dollars.

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Mega Millions: Winning numbers for Friday’s draw, Dec. 24

After no one became an instant billionaire on Tuesday, the Mega Millions jackpot has now risen to $1.15 billion, with a cash value of $516.1 Million.

The winning numbers for the Dec. 24 drawing are: 11-14-38-45-46-3 with Megaplier 3X.

However, you may still stand to win smaller prizes even if you didn’t get all the numbers right. Here are the combinations you need to win some money:

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Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot Payment Methods

The jackpot winner must choose between two payment methods to receive their money: an annualized prize, which consists of an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year, or a single payment equal to the cash value.

Both prize options are pre-tax. Once the prize is won, the winner will get a 24% deduction. Additionally, they will have to pay state taxes if the state in which they purchased their ticket taxes lottery winnings or charges income taxes. When filing their tax return, they would fall into the top federal tax rate of 37%.

When are Mega Millions drawings held?

This lottery is available in almost every state in the country except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. It can also be played in the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. It is not available in Puerto Rico. Drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. PT/10 p.m. CT).

The cut-off time for purchasing tickets is usually within one to two hours before the drawing, whether in person or online. However, it varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

When is the next Mega Millions drawing?

These are the dates for the Mega Millions drawings for the rest of the year. With a lot of luck, there could be a new billionaire before the end of 2024.

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