After another drawing without a winner, Mega Millions' $640 million jackpot has climbed. After another drawing without a winner, the Mega Millions jackpot reached $640 million Wednesday.
Tuesday's lottery drawing was the 21st straight without a winner. Friday night's drawing.
The biggest lottery prize ever, a $2.04 billion Powerball win in California on Nov. 8, was won less than two months prior. The major winner hasn't come forward yet.
The rationale for all the high prizes is simple—long odds assure few winners and long streaks of lottery futility allow jackpots to build week after week.
One in 302.6 million Mega Millions winners.The $640 million jackpot is for annuity winners who get annual installments over 29 years.
Most winners choose cash, projected at $328.3 million for Friday's drawing. 45 states, DC, and the USVI play Mega Millions.
Most winners choose cash, projected at $328.3 million for Friday's drawing. 45 states, DC, and the USVI play Mega Millions.