2Mega Millions jackpot soars to $980M as Powerball climbs past $500M

TRENTON, NJ — Dreams of billion-dollar riches are alive again as the Mega Millions jackpot surged to $980 million heading into Friday night’s drawing — marking the eighth-largest prize in the game’s history and drawing feverish ticket sales across New Jersey and beyond.

The eye-popping jackpot comes with a lump-sum cash option of $452.2 million before taxes. With no winner in Tuesday’s draw, players now have another shot at one of the biggest prizes ever offered by the multi-state lottery.

New Jersey has a strong recent track record with Mega Millions jackpots. In March, a Monmouth County player won a staggering $1.128 billion, now the sixth-largest in game history. That win followed another record-setter in December

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