RELEASE DATE: 12/22/2017
In advance of a long holiday weekend, strong sales have pushed the December 22 Mega Millions jackpot to an estimated $253 million ($157 million cash). At that level, it would be the twenty-first largest jackpot in the 15-year history of the game. It’s only the second time in the past 18 months, and just the third time in the past 30 months, that the jackpot has climbed past $250 million.
Mega Millions continues to benefit from a game change that took effect after the October 27 drawing, a change designed to allow jackpots to grow faster and higher.
The jackpot has been rolling since it was last won at $42 million on October 13; that prize was shared by winners in Michigan and Rhode Island. Earlier 2017 jackpots were won in New York ($105 million on September 22), Illinois ($393 million on August 11), Arkansas ($177 million on March 31) and California ($191 million on January 27 and $61 million on April 28).
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