#megamillions Dueling Mega Millions, Powerball Jackpots Now Total $1.02 Billion

January 4th, 2018

Mega Millions jackpot tonight is $450 million, while Saturday's Powerball jackpot has rolled to $570 million

RELEASE DATE: 1/5/2018

BALTIMORE – January has brought frigid temperatures to much of the country, but the winter season has done nothing to chill the blazing-hot jackpot rolls for Mega Millions and Powerball. The two games have reached a combined jackpot total of $1.02 billion – the third-largest combined total ever.

The jackpot in tonight's Mega Millions drawing is an estimated $450 million, the fourth-largest in the game's history and 11th-largest in U.S. lottery jackpot history. The estimated cash value is $281.2 million. Meanwhile, there was no jackpot winner in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, and the jackpot for Saturday has rolled to an estimated $570 million. It's the fifth-largest in Powerball history and seventh-largest in U.S. jackpot history. The estimated cash value is $358.5 million. (Estimated jackpot amounts are before taxes).

"The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are reaching historic levels, and that generates interest from everyone all across the country," said Gordon Medenica, Mega Millions Lead Director and Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director. "When the jackpots reach these levels, everyone starts to daydream about what they would do if they won. That's what makes a jackpot roll so exciting, and to have two of them makes it even more fun."

"With combined Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots reaching more than $1 billion, players across the country have two amazing opportunities to become multimillionaires over the next two days," said Charlie McIntyre, Powerball Product Group Chairman and New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director. "Together, Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are reaching nearly unprecedented levels—only the record $1.56 billion Powerball jackpot of January 2016 beats the current joint total. It only takes one ticket to win, so we encourage players all over the United States to play and to play responsibly."

The current Mega Millions jackpot has been increasing since players in Rhode Island and Michigan split the $42 million jackpot for the October 13 drawing. The current Powerball jackpot has been on the rise since October 25, when a Louisiana player claimed a $191 million jackpot.

The largest Powerball jackpot on record was a $1.586 billion jackpot in January 2016. That jackpot was shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot in history was $656 million – three winners from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland shared that record prize in March 2012.

Powerball drawings are held Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 PM ET.

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 PM ET and tickets are on sale until 9:50 PM tonight.

Editor's Note: Charlie McIntyre is available for phone and video interviews from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, January 5. Gordon Medenica is also available for phone and video interviews.

Media contacts:

Carole Bober Gentry, Maryland Lottery, (410) 230-8725, carole.gentry@maryland.gov

Maura McCann, NH Lottery, (603) 271-7111, Maura.McCann@lottery.nh.gov

This press release is mirrored from http://www.megamillions.com/. We do not own a copyright on it and we are not the original press contact.