The Mega Millions jackpot keeps climbing higher and now stands at $489 million for Tuesday night’s drawing.

A winner tonight would have the choice of taking home the $489 million jackpot as an annuity or $226.4 million in cash.

“Players love to try their luck at big jackpots and tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot certainly qualifies,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Have fun going for that life-changing prize and good luck tonight.”

In last Tuesday’s drawing, two lucky $3 Megaplier tickets in North Carolina matched four white balls and the yellow Mega Ball to win $10,000. The prizes doubled to $20,000 when the 2X Megaplier hit. The wins occurred:

• At the Food Lion on Fayetteville Road in Raleigh
• Using Online Play in Wake Forest

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million.

Players can buy Mega Millions tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com, or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

For details on how money raised by the lottery makes a difference for education programs in all 100 North Carolina counties, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.