() — This Friday the 13th could end up being someone’s lucky day. The Mega Millions jackpot reached an estimated $1.35 billion, the second largest in lottery history, for today’s drawing.
The jackpot soared to $1.1 billion after Tuesday night’s drawing when no winner walked away with the grand prize, the lottery said in a statement. press release Wednesday.
The estimated jackpot — which would be $707.9 million if cashed — is second only to the record $1.537 million won in South Carolina in 2018, the lottery said.
“Now at $1.35 billion, the Mega Millions jackpot is rising and making history as the second highest Mega Millions jackpot,” the lottery said. “Our member lotteries raise funds for many good causes, ranging from education to conservation programs. We are proud to support these efforts.”
The massive Mega Millions jackpot topped the $1 billion mark after nearly three months without a winning ticket.
The last jackpot won was $502 million on Oct. 14, when there were two winning tickets in California and Florida, Mega Millions said. Since then, more than 33 million winning tickets have been sold, including 68 players who took home $1 million or more, the lottery added.
There have been six jackpot wins on a Friday the 13th, and four of those were in Michigan, according to the statement. Other awards won on Friday the 13th have been won in New York, Ohio and Rhode Island.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, along with the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.
