Mega Millions Jackpot Hits World Record $540 Million
SACRAMENTO (CBS) — The Mega Millions jackpot is now at $540 million for Friday's drawing, a world record for lottery payouts.
The jackpot jumped to a world record $540 million Thursday morning after reaching a U.S. record jackpot on Wednesday of $476 million.
The cash option for the jackpot now stands at $389 million.
The previous jackpot record was $390 million, for a Mega Millions game in March 2007. Two winning tickets that year were purchased in Georgia and New Jersey.
This jackpot has been growing since Jan. 24, when Mega Millions had its last jackpot winner.
The jackpot has now rolled 18 times without a winner. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 176 million.
