More Than 1 Million Mega Millions Tickets Purchased In Michigan

MICHIGAN — The Mega Millions jackpot jumped by $70 million, and now stands at a record $970 million for Friday’s drawing. The cash option for the jackpot is $548 million.

The Michigan Lottery said more than 225,000 lottery tickets were purchased before 11 a.m. Thursday and 950,000 tickets were purchased on Wednesday, WDIV reported. The total tickets for Friday night's Mega Millions drawing passed the 1 million mark before 11 a.m.

The $970 million jackpot is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. The biggest Mega Millions jackpot won in 2018 was a $543 million jackpot. One ticket purchased in California matched the five white balls and Mega ball to win on July 24.

The last Michigan player to win a Mega Millions jackpot was Kevin Blake, of Waterford. Blake won half of the game’s $42 million jackpot in October 2017. The other winning ticket was purchased in Rhode Island.

If a Michigan player wins Friday’s $970 million jackpot, it would be the largest Mega Millions prize ever won in the state and the largest ever Michigan Lottery prize. On April 22, 2005, a Port Huron couple, Ralph and Mary Stebbins, won $208 million playing Mega Millions. On Aug. 15, 2012, Donald Lawson, of Lapeer, won a $337 million Powerball jackpot. Lawson’s jackpot holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan.

Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $2. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a “Megaplier” that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times.

Mega Millions tickets for Friday’s drawing may be purchased online at MichiganLottery.com and at the Lottery’s 11,000 retailers around the state until 10:45 p.m.

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