The Mega Millions jackpot soared to a record $500 million ahead of Friday’s drawing after no one claimed the grand prize on Tuesday night.
No one has managed to match all six numbers in the multi-state lottery game since January 24, when a Georgia woman collected the $72 million prize.
The near half-billion figure dwarfs the previous $390 million record, which was split in 2007 by two winners who bought tickets in Georgia and New Jersey.
The jackpot for Tuesday night’s drawing had hit an estimated $363 million.
If the winning numbers are drawn Friday at 11 p.m., the lucky ticketholder will have the option of taking a cash payment of $341 million or receiving the prize in 26 annual payments.
With $1 tickets sold in 42 states and Washington, DC, the odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are estimated at 1 in 176 million.
With NewsCore