Mega Millions Jackpot Rises to $16 Million on Friday, Jan. 9

There was no jackpot winner in Tuesday’s draw, so the Mega MIllions jackpot rises to $16 million on Friday night.

The winning numbers were 3,11,12,19,33 and the Mega ball was 30.

Five tickets hit the first five numbers, but not the Mega ball. Each of those tickets is worth $250,000. They were purchased in California, Illinois, Maryland (two winning tickets) and New Jersey.

51 tickets matched four of the first five numbers and also the Mega ball. Each of those tickets is worth $10,000.

Overall, there were 409,858 winning tickets, with total prizes worth approximately $3.8 million.

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is worth an estimated $105 million. It’s also the first game under the new rules. You will be asked to pick five numbers from 1-59. You will then pick a Power ball number from 1-39.

This should result, so the game organizers say, in more overall winners (since there are only 39 numbers to choose from for a Power ball), and higher jackpots (since four balls were added to the 55 white balls from which five have to be correctly hit).

And finally, a welcome to Florida players, which should help build jackpots.

In Europe, the popular Euro MIllions jackpot is also quite high. It’s up to 53 million euros, which by my calculations makes it more than $70 million U.S. The next draw is Friday, the 9th, in Paris (as usual).

Good luck to everyone tonight and Friday.