COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Lottery players will have a shot Friday night at an estimated $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot that has been growing ever larger after months without a grand prize winner.
There have been 30 straight drawings since the last time someone won the game’s jackpot on April 18. That has enabled the prize to steadily grow until it is now the sixth-largest ever in the U.S.
The jackpot is so hard to win because of the 1-in-302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
All eyes will be on the WSBTV lottery studio where the balls will fall into place Friday night.
Channel 2’s Berndt Petersen was out in Cobb County talking to billionaire hopefuls at a top ticket seller gas station.
With the second largest Mega Millions ever, customers at Heby’s Food Mart in Mableton believe even if they win, they may or may not remain anonymous.
“What’s the problem with the ‘fame’ along with the fortune?” “Hoo! Fame plus fortune. Never a good recipe. You want to make sure you don’t mix the two!” John Cole exclaimed.
Chef Shombe Jones runs the barbecue counter at Heby’s and comes from a long line of fine cooks. Around here, he’s already famous.
“I want ‘more’ fame. If I win I’ll let everybody know I won. Ha, ha!” he said.
TRENDING STORIES
- Woman says Popeye’s employees ripped her hair out because she complained about wrong order
- Wife of beloved maintenance man killed in crossfire angry killer was released on just $10K bond
- ‘We will catch them’: Search underway for men who tried to blend in with students at 2 schools
A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery payouts.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
1 of 11
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
IN OTHER NEWS:
©2023 Cox Media Group
