Mega Millions buying frenzy sends jackpot beyond highest imagined amount
By Todd Northrop
Even the state lotteries offering Mega Millions did not imagine a jackpot this large.
When Mega Millions last changed its number matrix in June, 2005, the lotteries said that it created the possiblility "that could swell the game's jackpots as high as half a billion dollars." (See Odds longer, prizes bigger as California joins Mega Millions, Lottery Post, June 22, 2005.)
Could they have imagined that the cash value of a jackpot would reach that high? Or that it could produce an annuity worth $640 million? Probably not.
But here it is, and everyone around the nation is talking about it — and buying crazy numbers of tickets.
The lotteries have had to revise the jackpot estimate an astonishing three times since early Wednesday morning, due to ticket sales that keep exceeding estimates.
"Huge doesn't begin to describe the size of this jackpot," said Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino. "We've actually had to deliver extra rolls of paper to our retailers to make sure they have enough to meet the demand for tickets."
The $640 million jackpot blows away the previous record by a whopping $250 million. "This is about dreams," said Martino. "Even people who don't typically play begin envisioning what they would do with over half a billion dollars."
The rush of people trying to check their numbers on the Internet tonight will likely have most Web sites swamped. Players are encouraged to check their numbers at USA Mega (www.usamega.com), which tends to survive incredible traffic volumes better than most state lottery Web sites.
"Players checking online should hang in there and refresh their Web browser every so often until they get through to the site," said Todd Northrop, founder of Lottery Post and USA Mega. "The rush of traffic happens right at 11:00 Eastern Time, so waiting a half hour or so before checking the numbers will probably be easiest."
In the meantime, lottery players dreaming about what $640 million means to them after taxes have been withheld can check USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page, which provides the information for each individual state.
Speechless! The saga continues. I have not won yet and I already can't sleep.
I guest the MD website wasn't wrong after all!
This is beyond mind blowing in the amount. Although I am still holding out for the j/p to get to 700M$ by the time of the draw. And if we happen to NOT have a winner tonight; things are really going to get wild!
Lottery officials must be dizzy and working around the clock. Hmm..wondering if I should offer a coffee delivery service or set up my hot dog stand just outside the main door. Who has time for lunch in historic moments as these!
Wow....640 million...Just wow....
$700M+ by draw time?
WAAAAAA HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo......go MM GO !!!
Individual lotteries get such updates an hour in advance (minimum) with instructions to post at specific times. Of course eager beaver IT guys who wanted to get to lunch at noon on the dot posted a few minutes earlier than the official website. After you mentioned it I started scouting other websites and knew all couldn't be making the same "mistake".
Poor PB... our local store has sold 0 powerball tickets in the last 2 days. (no shock on my end)
I guess that's how USA Mega got it posted before noon too. Except I still haven't taken a lunch break!
I was leery myself as I didn't want to post a misleading number. Thanks for the info!
This is a lifetime event..... This has surpassed anyone's imagination!!!!!!!!!
I will do a lot of good all over the world.
I joined in on the MANIA, lol
Picked 1 set of MM numbers, and bought 1 quick pick.
Good Luck tonight everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My ticket still reads: $540 Million.
Holy Crap!!!!!...our pool at work have 100 tickets!
Please let it be!!!
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
Maybe they will roll back the price now. No Powerball winner Saturday so it will probably stay at $60 million. I bet they wish Powerball was getting all this media coverage and sales. I took my money to Georgia because we don't have Mega Millions in Florida.
I wonder when the federal government will get the clue that this is THE way to take care of the deficit? Have a NATIONAL lottery system... with all proceeds - not earmarked for prizes - going toward paying off the deficit. A few 640M$ jackpots and we would have the problem solved.
Todd- you need to take a little breather as I have no doubt you have been overwhelmed with this on going event...it will get a lot more hectic this evening so fuel up.
When this jackpot is won, we will all be suffering from lottery fatique. But only until the next drawing.
If I win I will be suffering from that mysterious illness Sudden Wealth Syndrome or Affluenza. Signs and symptoms are feelings of guilt, alienation, fear and uncertainty. I wonder if there is a cure.
I feel like I'm in an alternate dimension
Who you kidding? I've been on this site since last night I'm about to go to bed right now! lol
Weither I win or lose this has been a fun ride!!!!!!!!!
Mega Millions and Powerball can be likened to the NCAA March Madness and the NIT...right now, Mega Millions is the BIG Dance and Powerball is the forgotten step child!
All of my money has gone to Mega Millions. I raided my IRAs and invested it all in Mega Millions drawing for tonight! I sure hope I win because if not I am so royally screwed!
Psych! I would never do anything that foolish but I bet some people have thought of doing something like that! I can imagine a lot of businesses are not seeing much business because peeps are throwing their cash at a lot of dollars and a dream! Heck even an NBA player plans to buy 10K in tickets. Good luck on checking to see if you have a winner playa! I will settle for my few bucks of tickets. May the Mega Millions balls roll nicely for me! Yeah I am selfish...thanks for contributing to the frenzy!
Its gonna come close or double the previous 390mill. Can't wait to see how many tickets are sold.
I bought a single PB ticket today. There's been, what....three winners in last couple weeks? All in $60-70 million range, which is far better than all but a very lucky few will do tonight in the MM. It's still well worth laying down $2.
Chick-fil-A for lunch sounds good today, nom nom nom!
Hard to believe the cash option would buy nearly 100,000,000 chicken sandwiches!
Mathematically there is no way that there will be one jackpot winner.... with ticket sales in the millions in one 24 hour stretch alone the possibility of just having one or even two winners is slim to none. When I saw the jackpot roll a few moments ago I knew that there was no way I would be the sole winner. it's just not possible... this jackpot will be the world record holder for a little while.... Powerball's new price and there matrix will place them in the 400-500 million range every two years or so... as for mega millions we will have to wait for another 5-7 years to see this again.
Hard to imagine that this current jackpot has almost doubled(and most likely will) the previous cash option record of $240mil.
I would be interested to see the number of QP tickets that are identicals...For example: 200 million tickets sold, are 25 million or more of those tickets with the same 6 numbers ??
Here are the winning numbers! ** ** ** ** ** MBALL **. I wonder if my local grocery can cash that check for me, of course I will pay the $3 fee for doing it. $640,000,000.00... that is a lot of aughts! I need to go shopping for a disguise because I sure am not going to show my true ugly mug to the cameras. "I would like to thank everyone who purchased tickets to make this jackpot possible". Rest assured I will do good with the money, but don't stand in line, because I am not at the end.