Mega Millions jackpot hits $1.15 billion before next drawing Friday

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $1.15 billion ($516.1 million cash value) for the next drawing on Friday, Dec. 27.If won at that level, it would be the fifth largest jackpot in the game's history, according to the Mega Millions website.The next Mega Millions drawing takes place at 11 p.m. Friday. Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. the night of the drawing.The largest Mega Millions jackpot was won Aug. 8, 2023. It was worth $1.6 billion. The winning ticket was sold in Florida.The largest Mega Millions jackpot won on a ticket purchased in Michigan was worth $1.05 billion for the Jan. 22, 2021 drawing.Here's what you need to know before the next Mega Millions drawing. When is the next Mega Millions drawing?The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday, Dec. 27. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday.How late can you buy a Mega Millions ticket?In Michigan, in-store and online ticket sales are available until 10:45 p.m. on the night of the draw.Mega Millions costs $2 to play.What's the Megaplier?The Megaplier feature increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four or five times. It costs an extra $1 per play. The Megaplier is drawn on Tuesday and Friday before the Mega Millions drawing. The pool includes 15 balls. Five are marked with 2X, six with 3X, three with 4X and one with 5X.More lottery:Michigan Lottery ticket scanner checks results of winners, losers: How to use itWhat are the Mega Millions prizes?Match 5 White Balls + Mega Ball: JackpotMatch 5 White Balls: $1 millionMatch 4 White Balls + Mega Ball: $10,000Match 4 White Balls: $500Match 3 White Balls + Mega Ball: $200Match 3 White Balls: $10Match 2 White Balls + Mega Ball: $10Match 1 White Ball + Mega Ball: $4Match Mega Ball: $2What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?The odds of matching the five white balls and Mega Ball to win the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.How do I find the Mega Millions winning numbers?You can watch Mega Millions drawing on YouTube. The winning numbers are also posted to the Mega Millions website and on the Michigan Lottery website.What happens if I win the jackpot?A jackpot winner has the option of taking an annuity or cash payment.The annuity is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, according to the Mega Millions website. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous one."This helps protect winners’ lifestyle and purchasing power in periods of inflation," according to the Mega Millions website.The cash option is a one-time, lump-sum payment that is equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool.If two or more people win the jackpot in the same drawing, the money is shared equally among all winning tickets.Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), Twitter/X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).