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MegaMillions jackpot at $325 million

Tonight’s drawing is the third-largest in the 12-state Mega Millions history.

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By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 10:23 AM Friday, August 28, 2009

DAYTON — Dreams of vast riches are driving otherwise sensible people to pony up for office pools, spend too much time in line at the convenience store and gaze off into space for longer than is polite.

Blame the $325 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot to be drawn Friday night, Aug. 28.

It’s the third-largest in the 12-state Mega Millions history. The top two, drawn in March and August of 2007, were $390 million and $330 million, respectively, said the Ohio Lottery, which offered this breakdown Thursday afternoon:

Current Mega Millions jackpot: $325 million

Cash value: $204.6 million

26 annual payments: $12.5 million per year

Based on the annuity option, that Mega Millions payout would be equivalent to:

• 6,820 new luxury sedans;

• 5,845 trips around the globe; or

• 1,020 brand-new homes.

“The options are infinite, and the ability to fulfill personal dreams is priceless!” the Lottery said in its press release.

You have until 10:45 p.m. Friday night to buy your ticket. Your odds of hitting the jackpot are 175.7 million to one.

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-7407 or sbennish @DaytonDailyNews.com.

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Itisme, by now you've hopefully discovered where Rob studied math and enrolled yourself in class so you can learn why he was right and you were wrong. If it's any consolation to you, while you lack Rob's math skills, at least you seem to not be burdened with his questionable business judgment, i.e., paying $50 to buy the odds down from 175M:1 to 3.5M:1.

sticktowhatyouknow
4:42 PM, 9/9/2009

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ROB,"Lets see...original odds near 1-175mill...buy 50 tickets and, assuming no duplicates, my odds drop to 3.5mill to one"...not quite I don't know where you studied math, but with 50 tickets the odds are around 175,699,950 to 1. You see the odds are the remaining tickets against the ones you hold.

itisme
9:59 PM, 8/28/2009

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Player - I care what the poor do with their money when they and their brats are all on public assistance which I am funding. It makes me sick to see these fat lazy poor people at the store. They're stealing from me when they whip out that Food Stamp card to buy chips, juice, and other garbage.

If the poor have cash for the lottery, Marlboros, and Budweiser, then they have funds for food, shelter, and medicine. Why do responsible people always have to cover for the irresponsible?

Uncle Andy
1:00 PM, 8/28/2009

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Our office pool topped $45 and climbing. Guess a lot of folks want to leave...

Lets see...original odds near 1-175mill...buy 50 tickets and, assuming no duplicates, my odds drop to 3.5mill to one...not quite the classic one in a million but...talk about a sure thing!

Rob
12:44 PM, 8/28/2009

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you edit that word out, really? I had no idea. Ok, how about "longing" or "yearning".

hear we go again
12:36 PM, 8/28/2009

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