All news

Ultimate stocking stuffer: $970M Mega Millions drawing for Christmas Eve

Only one December jackpot has ever been won on Christmas Eve, and it went unclaimed. History awaits.

A billboard displaying the current Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot.
Samantha Herscher

Santa might need a bigger stocking this year. The Mega Millions jackpot has soared to an estimated $970 million for the Christmas Eve drawing, offering lottery players a chance at what could become the largest December prize in the game's history.

The massive prize, which carries a cash option of $429.4 million, rolled over after Friday's drawing produced no jackpot winner. The winning numbers were white balls 2, 20, 51, 56, 67, and gold Mega Ball 19.

A Christmas Eve miracle has happened before

The game has seen thirteen December jackpot wins since its 2002 inception. Only one occurred on Christmas Eve - a $68 million prize won in New York in 2002. That prize went unclaimed, with the funds returning to participating states based on their sales contribution.

Recent winners across the nation

While the jackpot remains elusive, the December 20 drawing created millions of winners across other prize tiers. Five tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million each, with two sold in Indiana and one each in Arkansas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Another 48 tickets won third-tier prizes by matching four white balls plus the Mega Ball.

The current jackpot run has generated substantial wins since the last jackpot winner in Texas on September 10. More than 21.4 million winning tickets have been sold, including 56 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more across 24 states.

2024: A rare year for jackpot wins

This year has seen only three Mega Millions jackpot wins - the fewest in the game's history. The most recent was a $810 million prize won in Texas this September. Earlier wins included a record-breaking online prize of $552 million in Illinois on June 4 and a $1.13 billion prize in New Jersey on March 26, which was just claimed by an anonymous player.

Recent regional success stories

Lucky streaks have blessed several states recently. Michigan celebrated when The Breakfast Club lottery club claimed an $842.4 million Powerball jackpot on January 1, 2024. Maryland has seen multiple wins, with five Mega Millions prizes of $10,000 or more awarded in the past week. Pennsylvania players haven't missed out either - a lucky ticket worth $1 million was sold at Country Fair in Linesville for the December 20 drawing.

How to play

Tickets cost $2 each and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can add the Megaplier option for an additional dollar to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Drawings take place at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia.

The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, while the jackpot odds are 1 in 302,575,350. Half of all ticket sale proceeds remain in the state where the ticket was purchased, supporting local causes and retailer commissions.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

A Florida Lottery sign promoting scratch-off tickets as the perfect Christmas gift.
Lottery tickets stuff stockings with potential problems

Scratch-offs are handy holiday gifts, but a problem gambling group says the risk isn't worth it for kids.

Brant James profile pic

Brant James

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Woman robbed at gunpoint in 'Latin Lotto' scam

Deputies tracked the suspects using phone records and GPS data after the dramatic robbery.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Richard Saker, owner of the ShopRite store that sold the $1.13 billion winning Mega Millions ticket, receiving the bonus commission check from the New Jersey Lottery.
Anonymous winner claims New Jersey's largest-ever lottery prize

After months of speculation, New Jersey's billion-dollar lottery winner emerges to claim the 5th-largest prize in game history.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

An Arkansas Lottery retailer selling  tickets to customers.
U.S. lags in digital lottery adoption while online sales drive big spending

A new IGT study states that lottery players in the U.S. are spending more on the lottery since going digital.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Woman robbed at gunpoint in 'Latin Lotto' scam

Deputies tracked the suspects using phone records and GPS data after the dramatic robbery.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Richard Saker, owner of the ShopRite store that sold the $1.13 billion winning Mega Millions ticket, receiving the bonus commission check from the New Jersey Lottery.
Anonymous winner claims New Jersey's largest-ever lottery prize

After months of speculation, New Jersey's billion-dollar lottery winner emerges to claim the 5th-largest prize in game history.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

A graphic depicting the updated Mega Millions jackpot for December 20, 2024: $862 million.
Mega Millions jackpot soars to $862M for tonight

Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot comes in as the seventh-largest jackpot in the multi-state draw game's history.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A lottery retailer with Christmas decorations.
Lottery on Christmas? Some states say yes, others say ho-ho-hold off

Santa's not the only one working this Christmas — find out which lotteries are keeping the fun going.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold