Mega Millions jackpot surges to $1.15B following Christmas Eve drawing

Mega Millions ticketholders hoping to win the billion-dollar jackpot are in for a Blue Christmas.No one matched all six numbers during Tuesday’s drawing as the lottery’s grand prize surged to $1.15 billion — the fifth-largest prize in the game’s history.Tuesday’s winning numbers were 11, 14, 38, 45, 46, and Mega Ball 3.Four players in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming matched five white balls for $1 million, but missed the coveted gold ball to capture the top prize on Christmas Eve.According to the lottery, more than 4.2 million ticketholders won prizes during the drawing.“We know that many people will likely receive tickets to Friday’s drawing as holiday gifts, and what a gift that would turn out to be if you ended up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot,” Lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium Joshua Johnston said.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays – whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, or any other way people choose to celebrate the season – than by helping fulfill the dreams that come with a prize like this and prizes that will be won at all levels of the game.”Jackpot hopefuls also have the chance to win an estimated $516.1 million cash prize ahead of the next drawing on Friday.The staggering jackpot has grown since a lucky Texas winner won a mind-boggling $810 million prize in September.Before Tuesday night’s drawing, Queens Deli worker Patel estimated he sold more than 100 tickets on Christmas Eve.“It’s a lot — it’s very busy,” the 22-year-old, who is part-time at Forest Deli in Ridgewood, told The Post.“They want to win a billion dollars, of course.They are saying, like, ‘I’m going to give it to the charity,’ and ‘give it to you,’ also.

I’m excited also for my customers.If my customer wins, I’m happy.”A winner on Friday will mark the seventh in the game’s history when a jackpot of over $1 billion has been won.The previous...