Feeling lucky? You might want to purchase a lottery ticket. The Mega Millions jackpot is at an estimated $875 million for Tuesday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Friday night.
There were also no tickets sold with all six numbers in Monday night’s drawing of the multi-state Powerball lottery, pushing the estimated jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing to $687 million.
The odds of winning any lottery jackpot are very slim. Mega Millions players have a 1 in 302.6 million chance of taking home the top prize. And it’s not much easier to win a Powerball jackpot with the odds near 1 in 292.2 million.
If you are lucky enough to win either of the large jackpots, Robert Pagliarini, the president and chief financial adviser for Pacifica Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Irvine, California, offered some advice.
“Take a deep breath,” Pagliarini told The Associated Press. “You will be faced with numerous tax, legal, and financial decisions so I want you to stay grounded, because when you are calm you can make much better decisions.”
Pagliarini suggested building a team to help with decisions, including an attorney, tax expert and financial adviser experienced in handling windfalls.
“Lastly, even though you have professionals guiding you, do not forget that this is your money and you are in charge – they work for you. Ask questions and make them explain things so you understand them. The goal is to turn your sudden wealth into lasting wealth,” he said.
This is just the sixth time in the nearly 22-year history of the Mega Millions game that the jackpot has been this large, and five of those six jackpots exceeded $1 billion, according to a Mega Millions statement. The winning tickets were sold in South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Maine, and Florida.
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball tickets are also $2 and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
So, if you’re feeling lucky, why not take a chance and purchase a lottery ticket for a shot at winning one of these massive jackpots? Who knows, you could be the next lucky winner to join the ranks of those who have struck it big in the lottery.
Just remember to play responsibly and seek financial advice if you do happen to win big. Good luck!