Mega Millions jackpot reaches $420 million for tonight’s drawing

Buy a ticket: How to play Mega Millions

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $420 million for tonight’s drawing, giving lottery players a chance to become instant millionaires. Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 and players can choose five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.

To play Mega Millions, players must purchase a ticket from an authorized retailer. Players can choose their own numbers or use the Quick Pick option to have the computer randomly select their numbers. Once the numbers are selected, players must sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place until the drawing.

What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million. That means that for every 302.6 million tickets sold, only one will win the jackpot. However, the odds of winning any prize in the Mega Millions game are 1 in 24. Mega Millions offers nine prize tiers, ranging from the jackpot to a $2 prize for matching the Mega Ball number.

The Mega Millions drawing is held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 11 p.m. ET. The drawings are held at the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and are broadcast live on the station's website. The winning numbers are also posted on the Mega Millions website and on the lottery's official mobile app.

If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, you have the option of taking the prize as a lump sum or as an annuity. The lump sum option is the total amount of the jackpot, minus taxes. The annuity option is a series of payments made over 29 years. The payments are equal to the jackpot amount, divided by 29.

No matter how you choose to receive your prize, winning the Mega Millions jackpot is a life-changing event. The money can be used to pay off debts, buy a new home, start a business, or simply retire early.