Update: 'Mega' jackpot leaps to $640 million

March 30, 2012 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:45 AM

As of 11:40 a.m., the estimated jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions drawing has jumped $100 million to $640 million.

UPDATE (12:25 p.m.) The cash value of the jackpot, if taken as a lump sum, is now $462 million.

Just as the odds of any one ticket winning the jackpot are long, it's not likely this historic jackpot will roll again. But - in the event it does - the estimate for next Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot would be a jaw-dropping $975 million. If you've been watching this jackpot grow day to day, hour to hour, then you could anticipate the jackpot surpassing $1 billion in that scenario.

But before we get to any of those possibilities, there's the matter of tonight's big drawing. Do you have plans to watch the drawing live on T.V.? Perhaps with family or friends?

Good luck, North Carolina! As exciting as a world record jackpot is, please remember to play responsibly. It takes 'Mega' luck to win a jackpot.

38 COMMENTS

3/31/2012 07:07 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER - In North Carolina, the law says that because the lottery is managed by the state government, citizens have a right to know where the money goes. The public needs to be confident that real people win prizes so that we can continue to offer new games, award prizes, and raise money for education.

3/31/2012 03:57 - Vanessa M.

Why does the North Carolina Lottery require your identity to be known? I would prefer to remain anonymous if I ever won the lottery.

3/31/2012 02:47 - NC Lottery

@ RAGUNBULL - This time, jackpot-winning tickets were sold in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland. We just posted a new blog about last night's drawing.

3/31/2012 11:48 - STEPHONE R.

WHICH STATES WON PART OF THE JACKPOT

3/31/2012 11:38 - NC Lottery

@ PLAYER91 - Congrats on your win! If you had a $1 ticket and matched four white balls, looks like you may have won $150! You can collect your winnings at a lottery retailer or one of our regional claim centers. Grocery stores that sell lottery tickets can be a good place to collect a prize because they typically have more cash on hand. Congrats!

3/31/2012 10:24 - Roger K.

had no matching numbers at all on my tickets. I'M glad 3 lucky people hit the mega millions. Just hoping I could have won.I would go into hiding,travel AMERICA.never to be seen or heard from again.I don't think it will ever get that big again.but congrats to the winners,spend it wisely.

3/31/2012 08:59 - Barbara K.

Mega Million sold in Maryland

3/31/2012 08:46 - martin b.

YOU CAN'T WIN IF YOU DON'T PLAY THE LOTTERY

3/31/2012 07:38 - Rebecca M.

i have 4 of the wining number how do i claim prize??

3/31/2012 12:35 - Reneta M.

I should have went to bed, I am still poor.

3/31/2012 12:29 - diane m.

What time does it play??

3/31/2012 12:16 - annie s.

if iwon the lotteryy , i would give to the red cross , for they are always there when there is a disaster in the world, then i would give to my family and then take care of me. good luck to everyone

3/30/2012 11:56 - Michael F.

Well I hope one of you got it, as I did not. :(

3/30/2012 11:50 - James G.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN 100 MILLION TO THE SALVATION ARMY IN WILMINGTON NC.

3/30/2012 11:43 - Marie M.

If I was to win or win just a part of this money- I'd go to the C-store that I bought the ticket at and sit there all day and give everyone that came in free gas,food or drink. Then I'd probally get a van- go around the city and pick up all the people that are on the streets holding a work for food sign- take them to a resturant and buy them a meal-plus pay for them a month's ticket so anytime they needed a meal-they had one paid for. I'd help myself,my family and friends get out of debt-but best of all-I'd like to be inline behind someone and pay for their grocery's or etc.

3/30/2012 11:24 - Rhonda D.

I'll keep playing my pet numbers; I got the 2 and the MB--23...... getting closer!

3/30/2012 10:48 - virginia a.

Good luck to everyone.If win my whole family and others we be so blessed.

3/30/2012 10:45 - Luis V.

waiting on the drawing, will share with church and all my family,friends love them all..

3/30/2012 10:42 - shenita g.

good luck North Carolina! This is my first time playing, took me all day to decide if I would get a ticket. Got my fingers crossed.

3/30/2012 10:08 - Jeffery B.

Good luck god bless if I win I will give u all a couple thow just like y'all would do for me lol

3/30/2012 09:53 - Darius T.

GOOD LUCK EVERY ONE :)

3/30/2012 09:48 - brian v.

I realize that I have more of a chance of walking outside and getting hit on the head by a meteorite, but I'm playing too...another victim of this sad economy. Good luck to everyone....oh yeah, if I survived the hit on the head with the meteorite, I would sell it. Those things are worth money too. Peace.

3/30/2012 09:43 - Desarea S.

I just hope that the winner or winners is someone who NEEDS the money. Happy Number Pickin' !!

3/30/2012 09:35 - michael b.

Everyone has been talking about this drawing for the last two days. I finally had to buy a ticket after I ask someone how to play. I'm feeling lucky....

3/30/2012 09:22 - Kristin f.

Alamance county never has a winner lol

3/30/2012 08:51 - SAM L B.

Good Luck to everyone and everyone try to stay positve and motivated!!! Good things happen when you do:-) Now for me(Lottery Winnings)...I would definitely help St. Jude, Ronald McDonald House and organizations like that! I give to them and I'm not rich now. We as adults have lived our lives and our children are the future. I wud luve to help and support them.

3/30/2012 08:38 - Mike S.

If I win, the first thing I'm gonna do is get my wife some new boobs and pay off the trailer!!! (Remember the Loomis Fargo heist?)

3/30/2012 08:34 - harry r.

yes this is the first time for me i.hope and pray and good luck for every

3/30/2012 06:43 - Cheri M.

Someone will win!! Organized a pool at work increasing odds still only spending $2. Hey even $50 is more than we had yesterday!! Good luck and spens/invest responsibily!!????????????????

3/30/2012 05:37 - Herbert W.

Good luck to everyone. I'm sure someone, or maybe a couple will hit tonight. But if no one does, jackpot for Tuesday would be insane! I will see what my 2 quick picks do.

3/30/2012 05:07 - shelia b.

waiting on the drawing, will share with all my family,love them all...

3/30/2012 04:44 - allen f.

Odds of winning is to much for me. Forget about mega millions what about C A R O L I N A G O L D !!!!!!

3/30/2012 04:30 - Rebecca M.

this is the first time i have ever played i hope and pray that I win this I really need the money im going through a hard time just as everyone else with the economy !!!

3/30/2012 04:24 - Herman S.

The KING will be sitting on a newThrone if he wins the $640 million tonight. Mylucky numbers for tonights drawis 28 29 30 36 48. Megaball ???. NC will have a big winner tonight. Good luck everyone.

3/30/2012 04:20 - Joseph S.

If I don't win the jackpot tonight, I would like to see it roll again to a billion dollars because it will probably never be this high again and its just exciting to watch it grow.

3/30/2012 03:34 - Rachel F.

If I won, the first thing I would do would be to give $100 million to the NC education system to replace the arts and physical education program because lord knows I could never use all that money and would rather it go to something I believe in

3/30/2012 01:16 - Jherrae P.

I plan on waiting for the results to be emailed to me. And then trying not to have a heart attack from the excitment of just finding out that I've become the richest woman in NC.... MegaMillions has been good to me in the past. :)

3/30/2012 12:40 - Diana R.

I am playing my same favorite numbers !!!!!!! I have been lucky with these numbers through the years!!!!!

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Update: 'Mega' jackpot leaps to $640 million

March 30, 2012 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:45 AM

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