Powerball, Mega Millions Jackpots Reach Combined $1 Billion
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — With the combined jackpots of the Powerball and Mega Millions over $1 billion, people on social media are busy sharing what they would do with such a windfall.
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot is worth an estimated $450 million after no winning tickets were sold in Tuesday's drawing. Saturday's Powerball jackpot is worth an estimated $570 million, even after a ticket with five out of the six winning numbers was sold locally in Ontario and is worth $3.3 million.
RELATED: Huge Weekend Jackpots Bring Customers To 'Lucky' 7-Eleven
The winner of the $3.3 million ticket sold in Ontario has not yet come forward.
The chance of winning such a big Mega Millions jackpot is tempting enough alone, but with Saturday's Powerball jackpot at an estimated $570 million, lottery players are taking a chance on the possibility of winning both jackpots.
So if I play both the #Powerball AND the #MegaMillions lotteries tonight, I'm bound to win one of them, right?#lottery #money #jackpot #jackpots
— Randy S. Robbins (@RandySRobbins) January 5, 2018
Mega Millions jackpot up to $450 million. I'm feeling good about my chances of hitting the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots on back-to-back nights.
— Robert Harding (@RobertHarding) January 5, 2018
Guys FYI I plan on winning both the mega millions tonight and power ball tomorrow. Then no one will ever see me again.
— Snowmiser Stan account (@LRNeuby) January 5, 2018
Many on social media are sharing lofty plans for when they win one or both jackpots.
Just bought tickets for the $550million mega millions jackpot! When I win I'm buying a house in each country in Europe. #WorldTraveler #BzzLottoLiving #BiteSizedBzz
— itsthelittlethings (@Lil_Things101) January 5, 2018
If I win the latest Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot, I'm buying the Coyotes & moving them to Quebec.
— Beer League Bender (@pylon_917) January 5, 2018
New life plan: win he Mega Millions, open a bank, and hire Dog the Bounty Hunter to collect debt owed to me.
— Michael H (@MikeyhRS) January 5, 2018
But others continue to be realistic about the odds of winning either, much less both, games.
#FridayFeeling like otherwise logical folk will abandon their beliefs the more they hear news reports of Powerball and MegaMillions pots approaching a billi.
— Brother MuteZone (@CommonSensai) January 5, 2018
According to the California Lottery, the odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot is about 1 in 303 million, while the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot is about 1 in 293 million. According to the data scientists at Allstate, the chances of winning both lottery games is about 1 in 75 quadrillion.
Both lotteries are played in multiple states, including California, and tickets are $2 each. Friday night's Mega Millions drawing is at 8 p.m., and Powerball's Saturday night drawing is at 7 p.m.