Mega Millions Jackpot Rises To $550M
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Mega Millions jackpot continues to climb after no ticket matched all six numbers in Friday's drawing.
The now fourth-largest jackpot ever has been raised to $550 million for Tuesday's drawing.
Paula Otto, the Virginia Lottery's executive director and Mega Millions' lead director, told The Associated Press early Saturday that she expects the amount to rise even higher before the drawing.
"We've never had a jackpot at this level in December leading into the holidays,'' Otto said. "If we keep rolling, we could well be at a billion dollars going into Christmas.''
A winner from Friday night's drawing would have had a cash option of $228 million before taxes. The winning numbers were: 19-24-26-27-70, Mega Ball: 12.
Nine people nabbed $1 million prizes for matching the first five numbers on Friday. Those tickets were sold in Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey and two apiece in Florida, Michigan and New York, Otto said.
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