$740 million Mega Millions jackpot up for grabs in Friday's drawing

MIAMI - Feeling lucky? The estimated Mega Millions jackpot for Friday's drawing is $740 million.

If there is a sole winner, they have a choice between an annuity, with an initial payment and then 29 annual payments, or a one-time lump sum payment. Most winners choose a cash payout. For Friday night's drawing, that would be an estimated $366.3 million before taxes.

Only two Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year. It was last won at $552 million in Illinois on June 4. Before that, there was a winner on March 26 in New Jersey for a whopping $1.128 billion prize.

The two wins are a marked contrast to 2023. By this time last year, the jackpot had already been hit eight times, according to Mega Millions.

Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesday and Friday, tickets cost $2. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 303 million.

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