Does a $2 Mega Millions ticket make you one? billionaire this holiday season? As they say in the lottery world, “It could happen to you.”

Recently, a Florida Mega Millions ticket holder got a little richer when his ticket matched five numbers and won $5 million thanks to the Megaplier.

After no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the $862 million Mega Millions drawing on Friday, December 20, the top prize jumped to $944 million within hours. However, a few days later, the total grew to $970 million, according to Mega Millions online. That’s just under $1 billion. If another rollover occurs, it would be the 12th time in history that a Mega Millions or Powerball lottery jackpot has reached $1 billion. Only once has the lottery jackpot exceeded the $2 billion mark (see below).

Check back after 11:00 pm EST on Tuesday, December 24th for the Mega Millions winning numbers for Christmas Eve. According to Mega Millions Online, the one-time lump sum payment would be $439.9 million. In case you’re wondering, Friday’s winning numbers were 2-20-51-56-67 and the Mega Ball was 19. Megaplier was 2x. Although those numbers caused a rollover, it wasn’t all bad news: Friday’s Mega Millions drawing featured five tickets that each matched five numbers. These tickets were purchased in Arkansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and two in Indiana.

A week ago, on Tuesday, December 17, the drawing produced bizarre lottery numbers – and several side prizes: A ticket from North Carolina returned 5 plus the Megaplier for a prize of $4 million. Two tickets purchased in California and one in Louisiana and Oklahoma each yielded 5 wins for $1 million. On Tuesday, December 17, the Mega Millions winning numbers were 56-66-67-68-69 and the Mega Ball was 18.

Interestingly, that’s not the only oddity in this particular lottery streak, which began on September 13, 2024, or Friday the 13th, with $20 million.

While $970 million Is Despite costing a lot of money, it is not among the top 10 largest jackpots of all time in US history (see below), although it is among the largest in the game’s history.

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Recently, a Florida ticket won a big prize of 5 plus the Megaplier and a second prize of $5 million in the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, December 10th. This ticket was purchased at a Publix in Crystal River, Florida, on the state’s west coast near Cedar Key. Whoever chose these lucky numbers won a prize of $5 million. There is a limited time to claim the cash prize or the full amount (see below). Three more tickets – two purchased in California and the other in Maryland – added up to 5 for $1 million. Timelines for claiming these prizes vary because winners are from out of state.

If this lottery streak continues with another rollover, there are still chances of a grand prize winner during the holiday season.

Mega Millions tickets start at $2 each. Below are some frequently asked questions about the game, Florida winning ticket expiration dates (varies by state), and lottery odds. Good luck!

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What were the Mega Millions numbers for the Christmas Eve Lotto drawing on Tuesday, December 24, 2024?

Mega Millions lottery drawings take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. EST. Watch this story after 11 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 24th, Christmas Eve and the night before Hanukkah. We’ll see if there’s a grand prize winner, a secondary winner with match-five numbers, or another rollover that brings the grand prize closer to the $1 billion jackpot.

A nice holiday: Will the Mega Millions lottery jackpot reach $1 billion by Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve?

When is the next Mega Millions lottery drawing?

Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. EST. The next Mega Millions lottery drawing will take place on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 11:00 p.m. EST, or the last weekend of 2024 and the last weekend before New Year’s Eve.

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How long has it been since Mega Millions?

The latest Mega Millions lottery streak began on Friday, September 13, one of two Friday the 13th “holidays” in 2024, after a ticket in Texas won $800 million for matching all five numbers and had guessed the Mega Ball correctly. It took just over three months for the jackpot to grow from $20 million to $800 million.

Below is a summary of this latest series’ lottery draws and how the jackpot grew over time.

• Tuesday, December 24, 2024 or Christmas Eve: $970 million

Record win: After winning a $2.04 billion Powerball, Edwin Castro bought two multimillion-dollar homes within two weeks

How long do you have to redeem a winning Florida Lottery ticket?

Florida Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To receive a one-time cash payment, a winner has within the first 60 days of the applicable draw date to claim it.

What are the chances of winning Mega Millions?

The chances of winning are pretty slim. According to the Mega Millions website, players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of hitting all five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball. Prizes range from $2 (for matching the Mega Ball) to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.

Does the Florida Lottery announce lottery winners? Can you remain anonymous if you win the lottery in Florida?

According to the Florida Lottery website, winners are not allowed to remain anonymous: “Florida law requires that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence, game won, date won, and amount won to third parties who requests this information.” .”

However, the website states: “The names of lottery winners who claim prizes valued at $250,000 or more are temporarily exempt from disclosure for 90 days from the date of prize claim unless otherwise opted out by the winner. “

Lottery experts and lawyers say there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.

Top 10 Biggest Mega Millions Lottery Jackpots

According to megamillions.com, as of December 24, 2024, these are the largest Mega Millions winnings in the game’s history.

1. The largest Mega Millions jackpot won by a single ticket was $1.58 billion in the August 8, 2023 drawing. The final sale increased the top prize to $1.602 billion. The winning ticket was sold at a Publix in Neptune Beach, Florida. Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida, accepted the award.

2. The second largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.537 billion and was won on October 23, 2018 in South Carolina.

3. Won $1.348 billion in Maine on January 13, 2023

4. As of July 29, 2022, $1.337 billion was won in Illinois

5. $1.128 billion won in Neptune, New Jersey on March 26, 2024

6. Won $1.050 billion on January 22, 2021 in Michigan

7. $970 million on December 24, 2024, Christmas Eve? Still open

8. On September 10, 2024, $800 million was won in Texas

9. As of June 4, 2024, $552 million was won in Illinois

10. As of July 24, 2018, $543 million was won in California

When did Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots reach $1 billion or more? What are the largest lottery jackpots in US history?

As of December 24, 2024, there have been 11 lottery jackpots that have reached or exceeded $1 billion. Only once has the jackpot exceeded the $2 billion mark. These are the largest lottery jackpots in US history.

4. Mega Millions prize money of $1.58 billion, August 8, 2023, Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida

5. $1.537 billion Mega Millions prize, October 23, 2018, won by an anonymous player in South Carolina

6. Mega Millions prize money of $1.348 billion, January 13, 2023, LaKoma Island Investments, LLC, with the ticket purchased in Lebanon, Maine

7. $1.337 billion Mega Millions prize, July 29, 2022, won through an anonymous partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, Illinois

8. $1.326 billion Powerball prize, April 6, 2024, Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Chao of Oregon

9. $1.128 billion Mega Millions prize, March 26, 2024, won by an anonymous winner in New Jersey with the ticket purchased at ShopRite Liquor #781 in Neptune Township, New Jersey

10. $1.08 billion Powerball prize, July 19, 2023, Yanira Alvarez of California

11. Mega Millions prize money of $1.050 billion, January 22, 2021, won by the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, Michigan

(This story will be updated to add new information.)

Sangalang is a senior digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Keep following her Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mega Millions, December 24, 2024, Christmas Eve Jackpot Top 10 of All Time