Mega Millions jackpot soars to $500M

Vita Avignone of Middle Island shows her picks at Sonny's Cards and Things store in Rocky Point on Monday. Sonny's had a $162 million winner in December 2009. (March 26, 2012) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Half-a-billion dollars.
After no one won the $363 million Mega Millions lottery drawing Tuesday night, the mega-jackpot jumped to a record $500 million Wednesday, according to lottery officials.
The lump-sum payment comes to $359 million.
The New York Lottery reported no winners Tuesday for the numbers 9, 19, 34, 44, 51 and a Mega Ball of 24.
Two second-place tickets worth $250,000 were sold on Long Island, one in Lindenhurst, the other in Bellmore. Those second-place tickets matched all five numbers but not the Mega Ball.
After no one won the $363 million jackpot Tuesday, the number leaped to a half-billion dollars -- the largest multistate jackpot in U.S. history. The drawing takes place Friday night.
A $390 million Mega Millions game, won on March 6, 2007, had been the largest jackpot. Two winning tickets -- $195 million each -- were purchased by a New Jersey couple and Georgia man.
Earlier this year, a software company manager from California's Silicon Valley won Long Island's biggest-ever lottery jackpot.
Daniel Bruckner, 35, of San Jose, bought a $208 million Mega Millions ticket at a Middle Island supermarket while on a Christmas week visit with his in-laws in Ridge.
Memorial Day: LIers honor those we've lost ... Oakdale man's service remembered ... Gold Star mom makes it her mission to honor son's sacrifice ... NFL player visits Little League team
Memorial Day: LIers honor those we've lost ... Oakdale man's service remembered ... Gold Star mom makes it her mission to honor son's sacrifice ... NFL player visits Little League team