A winning Mega Millions ticket worth $1 million was purchased in New Jersey for the Friday’s lottery drawing, as lottery officials confirmed. The ticket managed to match five numbers, but not the Mega Ball, making it one of four second-prize tickets nationwide. Although no one across the country hit the $236 million jackpot, the winning amount was added to the next drawing as specified. On the other hand, Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is estimated to be worth $120 million, with a cash option of $59.4 million.
On Friday, the winning numbers were 1, 9, 16, 17, and 30. The Mega Ball was 17 with a Megaplier of 2x. The odds of a $2 ticket matching all the winning numbers are 302,575,350 to 1, whereas winning at least $1 million with five numbers but not the Mega Ball boast 1 in 12,607,306 chances. Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesday and Friday in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Although the much-awaited $236 million jackpot was unclaimed from Friday’s Mega Millions drawing, a ticket worth $1 million was successfully sold in New Jersey after matching five numbers but not the Mega Ball. The odds of winning significant money with the correct numbers is particularly low, with just a 1 in more than 12 million chance. However, the draw of the next jackpot will continue to add the winning amount, as the lottery fervor remains high with a $120 million estimated Powerball jackpot.