Mega Millions Sales Push Jackpot To $636 Million
Update: Winning Mega Millions Numbers For 12/17/13 - 8, 14, 17, 20, 39 Mega Ball 7
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – Sales of Mega Millions tickets were booming Tuesday, pushing the jackpot to $636 million for tonight's drawing.
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That's a $50 million jump from $586 million jackpot at the start of the day. The estimated cash option is now $341.2 million.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports
Mega Millions Sales Push Jackpot To $636 Million
Beth Bresnahan, the spokeswoman for the Massachusetts State Lottery, told WBZ-TV sales for Tuesday alone hit $1 million by 10:15 a.m. That's a rate of about $6,000 a minute.
This prize now ranks as the second largest in Mega Millions history and second biggest overall in U.S. history.
According to Bresnahan, if there is no winner tonight, the jackpot for Friday night is estimated at $950 million, with the cash option increasing to $509.6 million.
Here's a look at the top 10 record lottery jackpots in U.S. history.
1. $656.0 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (3 tickets from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)
2. $636 million, Mega Millions, (next drawing scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 17; jackpot could grow)
3. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (1 ticket from Florida)
4. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012 (2 tickets from Arizona and Missouri)
5. $448.4 million, Powerball, Aug. 7, 2013 (3 tickets from Minnesota and New Jersey)
6. $399.4 million, Powerball, Sept. 18, 2013 (1 ticket from South Carolina)
7. $390.0 million, Mega Millions, March 6, 2007 (2 tickets from Georgia and New Jersey)
8. $380.0 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 4, 2011 (2 tickets from Idaho and Washington)
9. $365.0 million, Powerball, Feb. 18, 2006 (1 ticket from Nebraska)
10. $363.0 million, The Big Game (predecessor to Mega Millions), May 9, 2000 (2 tickets from Illinois and Michigan)
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