The Mega Millions jackpot now stands at $1.35bn after no winner was found in Tuesday’s draw, making it the second highest-ever jackpot in the lottery’s history.
Furthermore, the jackpot represents the fourth largest in US history, overtaking the $1.33bn Mega Millions jackpot won in July last year.
“The Mega Millions jackpot is moving up and making history as the second highest Mega Millions jackpot ever,” noted Pat McDonald, Mega Millions Lottery Director.
Lotteries and retailers can now expect ticket sales to go into overdrive if previous events are anything to go by.
News of lucrative jackpots in Jan 2021 saw online ticket purchasing service theLotter report a significant influx, with millions of Europeans, South Americans and Africans purchasing tickets and its Texas branch witnessed a surge in website traffic last week as the current wait for a winner continues.
Lottery retailers also reported unprecedented levels of demand last summer as the Mega Millions jackpot reached $1.33bn.
There is still some way to go for the latest pot to topple the record $2bn won by a Powerball player in Nov 2022 but the $1.53bn (Mega Millions) and $1.58bn (Powerball) jackpots, secured in Oct 2018 and Jan 2016 respectively, are well in sight.
The jackpot has now gone unclaimed 25 times in a row ahead of the 26th draw this Friday 13. Considered unlucky by some, officials have confirmed that previous draws on this date have resulted in six winners.
The cash option on the latest pot has been confirmed as $707.9m.