The Mega Millions jackpot has soared past $1 billion after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Christmas Eve. The grand prize now amounts to $1.15 billion, which would be fifth largest in the game’s history if someone wins.

“We know that many people will likely receive tickets to Friday’s drawing as holiday gifts,” Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. “What a gift that would turn out to be if you ended up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot.”

The next drawing is Friday at 11 p.m.

Marylanders have been big winners before

It’s the seventh time since 2002 when a jackpot has been more than $1 billion. The largest winning ticket in Maryland was in 2012 for a $656 million jackpot that was shared with winners in Kansas and Illinois.

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The Maryland winners, three friends who worked for the state’s public education system, bought a ticket at a 7-Eleven store in Milford Mill. They split $218.6 million, choosing the cash option.

Maryland has been the home of other Mega Millions winners. In 2007, Ellwood “Bunky” Bartlett won roughly $27 million after taxes. In 2014, a Maryland winner split a $414 million prize.

Changed odds to make bigger jackpots

The odds of winning are one in 302,575,350, according to the lottery. The lottery officials changed the rules and odds of the game years ago to make bigger prizes, according to The Washington Post.

It’s also been an unusual year. There have been only three winners of the jackpot, the fewest in a year since 2002, when the game began, according to the lottery.

In 2023, there were 10 jackpot wins, the most in a single year in a decade.

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Ticket prices are going up

A ticket costs $2, but Mega Millions ticket prices will rise to $5 starting in April.

Johnston said in a press release in October the increase comes with the launch of a “new and improved game” that will include “bigger jackpots more frequently,” “larger starting jackpots” and “faster growing jackpots.”

“We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb,” Johnston said. “Plus this game will continue the important legacy of supporting great causes everywhere Mega Millions is played.”