$370 million jackpot is the game's 12th-largest
By Todd Northrop
Lottery officials announced today that the jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions drawing has been raised from $348 million to $370 million, as a result of rapid sales.
The Mega Millions jackpot has grown since Oct. 26 and has rolled 18 times.
Mega Millions offers two jackpot payment options: the $370 million annuity prize paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual graduated payments, or the cash option, which is $223.2 million.
"A jackpot of $370 million would be life-changing for anyone, and a great way to start the new year," said Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Director Bishop Woosley. "And even if a player doesn't win the jackpot, he can still be a big winner by playing the Megaplier."
Tickets will remain on sale typically until 10:45 pm Eastern Time on Friday, although players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time. (Every state is different.) Players are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute.
The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 302 million. The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are 1 in 24.
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 each. For an extra $1 per ticket players can purchase the Megaplier option, which multiplies any non-jackpot won by up to 5 times, depending on the Megaplier number drawn that evening.
The only state that does not offer the Megaplier is California, because state law banning fixed lottery prize amounts is not compatible with the fixed nature of the Megaplier payouts.
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Mega Millions features nine different prize levels, ranging from $2 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Mega Ball number.
My target is 2nd prize after tax $500K.....First 5 numbers to match babeh
When PB gets Hit (JP=$40M) Play MM and vice versa!
American retirement plan :-)
PB sadly already has :-(
I always spend the extra dollar...up to $5 million for 2nd place.
Increases on the day of the drawing are a pleasant surprise and a respectable option.
But will it roll ????
I agree on the increase.
Will it roll?
Not if I can help it! 
I hope not!
I just bought some tickets to mail to my Brother for his birthday present--4 weeks worth of MM & PB sans multipliers.
PRO=Please Roll Over...New Jersey bound..watch out Todd!
MM and PB jackpots are ALWAYS won concurrently, so there’s a 0% chance MM will roll, it WILL be won tonight. Get your tickets everyone!
I prefer MM
I am going to pass on tonight's draw, I will play on New Year's Day if it rolls.
had skipped the Christmas draw and bought the single ticket 4 tonight
G2TP and RBR
....just looked up at the afternoon sky, and saw a slight glint at the edge of a cloud formation, then l recall the old saying " every cloud has a silver lining." My question is : Is it for thee or me?
Will the Mega Millions jackpot be won tonight?
I seriously doubt it seeing that Powerball was just won.
Trends show that both tend to be won concurrently.
Read what you posted jj, makes no sense whatsoever.
Well I see JJ's point. We have all won so many back to back mm and pb jackpots, it is difficult to keep the wins straight. If I win any more jackpots, it will be annoying.
I will settle for a cool million myself tonight.-weshar75
Oh no, Artist is thinking like jj.......
What happens if the South Carolina Mega Millions billion dollar jackpot winning ticket is not claimed? Does the money go back into the current jackpot, or used to fund prizes in scratch off tickets?
All of the states that participate get back the money they put in to fund the jackpot and do with it whatever their state’s law say they must.
Not with the numbers that came out tonight. It will roll.
Several 5+0 winners: CA,FL,GA,NJ,PA and WA with megaplier. But it's rolling to $415 million. That puts January 1st 2019 jackpot in the Top 25. Happy New Year!
0%--------->
<----------Mr. Jackpot
Looks like your theory was blown out of the water since she went up to $415 million!
With the exception of PA, coastal states won the secondary prizes!
Happy New Year!
well my friends, it would seem like the MM is off to a healthy start for 2019 jejeje
I say that the MM jackpot will get a bump before the 1/1/19 drawing. It could possibly go to $440 mil.
This is the best time to win. You get almost 16 months of interest on the money you need to pay in taxes by 4/15/2020.
Happy New Year everyone!