(Tega Cay Sun) – Lottery players will get a chance on Friday night to win an estimated $1.25 billion Mega Millions jackpot, which has been steadily growing for months without a grand prize winner. There have been 30 consecutive drawings since the last jackpot winner on April 18, allowing the prize to become the sixth-largest ever in the U.S.
Winning the jackpot is extremely difficult, with odds of 1-in-302.6 million of matching all the numbers. However, the odds are better for smaller prizes, starting at $2.
The $1.25 billion prize is paid over 30 years through an annuity for the sole winner. Alternatively, choosing a lump sum payout would provide an estimated $625.3 million.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
