Mega Millions Massive Jackpot To Be Won
$521 million Mega Millions jackpot is up for grabs. More than half a billion dollars is on the table in Friday night’s Mega Millions lotto drawing.
One lucky winner could take home one of the largest jackpots in Mega Millions history. It’s the fourth time in the game’s history that the jackpot has surged past half a billion dollars.
The winning numbers, drawn at 11 p.m. on Friday, are 59-46-28-11-31 and a Megaball of 1.
No one has won the jackpot in two months.
This is the fourth time in the game’s history that the jackpot has exceeded $500 million. The prize is now worth $521 million, with a cash payout of $317 million before taxes.
The March 27 drawing numbers were 7-25-43-56-59 and the Megaball was 13. Two tickets in Illinois and New Jersey matched five of the numbers. Those ticket holders won $1 million each.
“Jackpot rolls are always exciting, but surpassing the $500 million mark for only the fourth time is a historic milestone,” Gordon Medenica, Mega Millions lead director and Maryland Lottery gaming director, said in a press release.
“Large jackpots like this one capture everyone’s attention, and it would be great to see the roll go on for a while longer. But at the same time, we can’t wait to see someone win.”
The largest Mega Millions jackpot in history was $656 million in March 2012. Three separate winners from Kansas, Maryland and Illinois shared the prize.
What to do if you won the Mega Millions jackpot?
The best thing a winner can do is stay anonymous, financial adviser and CPA Kurt Panouses, who helped a Florida couple that won a portion of the largest jackpot ever, said.
“The initial concern of the ticket is probably the most important part of the planning aspect,” Panouses told ABC News. “What the individual should do is protect the ticket, keep it safe, put it in a safe place, but do not sign the back of the ticket.”
Panouses also suggested making a copy of the ticket and getting a tax professional and an attorney to help manage the funds and offer investment advice.
