The jackpot for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is now $540,000,000. The $32,000,000 increase from the advertised jackpot on Wednesday is due to brisk sales across all 44 participating Mega Millions states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot was $454,000,000 and produced over 820,000 winning tickets in New York State including 14 winners of $5,000 and 12 winners of $2,500. With Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot now at $540,000,000, New York will see even more winners across the state.

Lottery officials remind players that they could be a winner even if they don’t win the jackpot prize. The second place prize is $1 million dollars for matching the first five numbers. Lottery players are also reminded to ask their Lottery retailers for the Megaplier feature where for just an extra dollar, their prize can multiply by two, three, four, or five times.

If no one matches all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in Friday’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow. Tickets for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. EST.

Previously, the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever claimed in New York Lottery history was by Harold Diamond, of Wurtsboro, Sullivan County, who was the sole winner of a $326 million Mega Millions jackpot drawn on November 4, 2014.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot across all participating states to date was $656 million, won in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland on March 30, 2012.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.30 billion in fiscal year 2015-2016 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 14 percent of total state education aid to local school districts. 

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.