FRIDAY's $750million Mega Millions jackpot is the fifth biggest in US history – and would make the winner richer than Kylie Jenner and the Beckhams.

Experts say the lottery prize could even top $800million amid a frenzy of ticket buying across the US.


Nobody scooped the jackpot in Tuesday's draw, which was the eighth largest ever at $625million.

So it rolls over to the next draw on Friday, offering the chance of fabulous wealth in an instant.

If a lucky ticket holder matches all five white balls and the gold Mega ball, they will be richer than a string of superstars such as Dolly Parton and Simon Cowell.

The estimated $750million jackpot is for an annuity – paid over three decades at $25million a year before tax.

But even the lump sum cash prize of $550million would make the winner richer than Taylor Swift, Elton John and the Queen of England.

Mega rich

THE winner of the Mega Millions jackpot would instantly be richer than a host of celebrities.

Kylie Jenner: Instagram megastar was once rated a billionaire thanks to her cosmetics brand. Forbes now estimates her wealth at around $700million.

Dolly Parton: Legendary singer-songwriter and philanthropist – who part funded Moderna's Covid vaccine – has an estimated wealth of $600million.

Queen Elizabeth II: Forbes reckons the British monarchy is worth $88billion – but the Queen's personal wealth is only $550million.

Simon Cowell: Music guru owns the rights to hit TV shows such as America's Got Talent. He is worth around $533million.

David and Victoria Beckham: The power couple's sporting endorsements and fashion empire makes them dollar billionaires on paper, according to some estimates. But the UK's respected Sunday Times Rich list reckons they are worth $505million.

Elton John: Rocket Man singer's net worth is around $490million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Taylor Swift: Chart princess owns two private jets and is worth around $365million, according to Forbes.

It is the biggest Mega Millions jackpot since a world-record $1.537billion was scooped by one ticket holder in South Carolina in October 2018.

Meanwhile players of the rival Powerball lottery could win the $550million jackpot ($411million cash) tonight.

The Mega Millions jackpot has been rolling over since September 15, when one ticket holder scooped $120million in Wisconsin.

There were four previous winners in 2020, including a $414million jackpot in Arizona in June and $202million in New Jersey in February.

Mega Millions tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands.

The odds of winning the Mega jackpot are one in 302,575,350.

The largest ever lottery prize in the US was the $1.586billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016.

It was split by three ticket holders in California, Florida and Tennessee.

Mega jackpots

FRIDAY’s $750m Mega Millions jackpot would be the fifth biggest ever – and could be the third biggest if it rises to $800m.

Here are the top ten:

1. $1.586bn Powerball, Jan 2016 ($983m cash) – won by three ticket holders in California, Florida and Tennessee.

2. $1.537bn Mega Millions, Oct 2018 ($878m cash) – single winner in South Carolina.

3. $768m Powerball, March 2019 ($477m cash) – single winner in Wisconsin.

4. $759m Powerball, Aug 2017 ($480m cash) – single winner in Massachusetts.

5. $688m Powerball, Oct 2018 ($396m cash) – two winners in Iowa and New York.

6. $656m Mega Millions, March 2012 ($474m cash) – three winners in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.

7. $648m Mega Millions, Dec 2013 ($348m cash) – two winners in California and Georgia.

8. $590m Powerball, May 2013 ($370m cash) – one winners in Florida.

9. $588m Powerball, Nov 2012 ($385m cash) – two winners in Arizona and Missouri.

10. $564m Powerball, Feb 2015 ($381m cash) – three winners in North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas.





 

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