Lottery players will have a chance to ring in the New Year with an estimated $685 million bonus in their bank account as a drawing is held Friday night in the Mega Million game.
No ticket purchased for the lottery matched all six numbers drawn Friday night, Mega Millions said in a statement early Saturday. The numbers selected Friday were: 1, 3, 6, 44, 51 and gold Mega Ball 7.
The jackpot has grown so large thanks to long odds of one in 302.6 million that have resulted in 22 straight drawings without a big winner. The estimated $785 million prize is for a winner who chooses to be paid through an annuity, with annual checks over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for cash, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $395 million.
California Lottery officials confirmed Friday morning that the jackpot had jumped approximately $45 million in value due to increased ticket sales since the Tuesday night drawing produced no winners.