Will we see a third billion-dollar lottery jackpot in 2024? And better yet, will Mega Millions jackpot reach or surpass $1 billion on Christmas Eve 2024 or New Year’s Eve 2024?
Only time will tell.
And to put a positive spin on this game of chance: As they say in the lottery world, “it could happen to you.”
With the Friday, Dec. 13, or “Friday the 13th” Mega Millions jackpot at $670 million, it’s very possible that grand prize can ratchet past $1 billion, pending no one matches all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the next upcoming drawings.
Here’s what we know as of Wednesday, Dec. 11, and about how long it takes for a lottery jackpot from Mega Millions and Powerball to reach $1 billion and the extremely rare case of a $2 billion grand prize.
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When was the first time a lottery jackpot hit $1 billion?
Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach, Florida, claim their share of the $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in Tallahassee on Feb. 17, 2016. The grand prize was split three ways, with John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee, and Marvin and Mae Acosta of California. (Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat)
Powerball made history Jan. 11, 2016, the first time a lottery jackpot hit $1 billion. After no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the (Saturday) Jan. 9, 2016, drawing for $949 million, the Monday jackpot soared to $1.4 billion. (No one won that drawing either.) Powerball made history again when three tickets matched all six numbers to win $1.586 billion in the (Wednesday) Jan. 13, 2016, drawing.
The jackpot started Nov. 4, 2015, at $40 million. It had rolled over almost 30 times from Nov. 4, 2015, to Jan. 13, 2016, before three tickets from California, Tennessee and Melbourne Beach, Florida, claimed the grand prize (see below).
As of Dec. 11, 2024, the$1.586 billion Powerball prize is the third-largest lottery jackpot of all-time (see below).
Which game has had more billion-dollar jackpots, Mega Millions or Powerball?
As of Dec. 11, 2024, Mega Millions has had more jackpots surpass $1 billion. Powerball is the only lottery game to surpass $2 billion jackpot. Fun fact: Edwin Castro of Altadena, California, claimed the $2.04 billion Powerball prize from the Nov. 7, 2022, drawing. He claimed his winnings on Valentine’s Day 2023.
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How long does it take for Powerball, Mega Millions to reach $1 billion jackpot?
It varies depending on number of rollovers and ticket sales, but using recent billion-dollar lottery streaks as a guide, it seems to take about two to three months or 30 to 40 rollover drawings for a $20 million Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot to reach or surpass $1 billion.
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After two months of rollovers − from Jan. 3, 2024, to March 30, 2024 − Powerball hit the billion-dollar mark after no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball for the Monday, April 1, 2024, “April Fool’s Day” Powerball drawing (the Saturday, March 30, 2024, Powerball drawing was for $935 million). Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Chao of Oregon eventually won the Saturday, April 6, 2024, Powerball jackpot for $1.30 billion, but final sales pushed their total winnings to $1.326 billion (see below).
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After three months of rollovers − from Dec. 12, 2023, to March 22, 2024 − Mega Millions hit the billion-dollar mark after no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, March 22, 2024, Mega Millions drawing for $977 million. The Tuesday, March 26, 2024, drawing then jumped to an estimated $1.13 billion. Though one ticket from Neptune, New Jersey, matched all six numbers, that $1.128 billion Mega Millions jackpot has not been publicly claimed as of Dec. 11, 2024.
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After two months of rollovers − from July to September 2023 − Powerball hit the billion-dollar mark after no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, drawing. Hours after the winning numbers were picked the $960 million jackpot climbed to $1.04 billion.
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After three months of rollovers − from April to July 2023 − Mega Millions hit the billion-dollar mark after no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, July 28, 2023, drawing. Hours after the winning numbers were picked, the $940 million jackpot soared to a whopping $1.05 billion.
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After three months of rollovers − from April to July 2023 − Powerball hit the billion-dollar mark July 18, 2023, when no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the Monday, July 17, 2023, drawing. A single ticket purchased in California eventually won Powerball on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, for $1.08 billion.
As of Dec. 11, 2024, there have been 11 lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once in U.S. history has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion.
It typically takes three months of rollover drawings for a lottery streak to grow from $20 million to $1 billion. (The odds of winning remain the same, however, according to Powerball.com and megamillions.com.)
Will there be a billion-dollar lottery jackpot in December 2024? Will there be a Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve lottery winner?
Using the recent billion-dollar lottery streaks as a guide (mentioned above), and depending on Mega Millions lottery ticket sales for this current streak, the earliest we can see a billion-dollar jackpot could be Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, or Christmas Eve 2024. There is also the Mega Millions drawing for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, or Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, aka New Year’s Eve.
How long has Mega Millions rolled over? When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The last Mega Millions lottery streak started Friday, Sept. 13, after a ticket in Texas won $800 million for matching all five numbers and the Mega Ball. It took a little over three months for the $20 million jackpot to roll over to $800 million.
Below is a recap of lottery drawings for this latest streak and how the jackpot grew over time.
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Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, aka Friday the 13th: $670 million
What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?
The odds of winning are pretty low. According to the Mega Millions site, players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance to match 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.
When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more? Which states had billion-dollar jackpot winners for Mega Millions and Powerball?
As of Dec. 11, 2024, here’s when lottery jackpots have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion.
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$1.58 billion Mega Millions prize, Aug. 8, 2023, Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida
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$1.537 billion Mega Millions prize, Oct. 23, 2018, won by an anonymous player in South Carolina
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$1.348 billion Mega Millions prize, Jan. 13, 2023, (Friday the 13th!) LaKoma Island Investments, LLC, with the ticket purchased in Lebanon, Maine
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$1.337 billion Mega Millions prize, July 29, 2022, won by an anonymous partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, Illinois
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$1.326 billion Powerball prize, April 6, 2024, Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Chao of Oregon
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$1.08 billion Powerball prize, July 19, 2023, Yanira Alvarez of California
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$1.050 billion Mega Millions prize, Jan. 22, 2021, won by the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, Michigan
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mega Millions, Powerball reached $1 billion twice in 2024, so far