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.
'We have to do better' Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.
'We have to do better' Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.
