Mega Millions jackpot soars to $1.22 billion ahead of Friday drawing

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Mega Millions jackpot has soared to near-record levels with the prize magnitude present sitting astatine $1.22 billion.

It comes aft respective winners chose 5 of the six winning numbers, including 1 idiosyncratic successful Lemoore.

According to lottery officials, this jackpot is the 5th largest successful history.

If the fortunate summons is purchased present successful California, it would beryllium the largest Mega Millions jackpot for the Golden State.

People were retired buying Mega Millions tickets connected Friday, hoping to commencement the caller twelvemonth arsenic a billionaire.

"I wanted to get retired and springiness it a shot. You ne'er cognize what's gonna hap erstwhile the drafting happens," said Ray Keith, a Clovis resident.

A fortunate idiosyncratic won large connected a Mega Millions summons sold successful Lemoore connected Christmas Eve.

According to the California State Lottery's website, a summons worthy 1 constituent seven-seven cardinal dollars was sold astatine this Save Mart.

Clovis mates Robert and Pinky Kerner are present hoping to instrumentality location the expansive prize.

"We usually don't play. It's the ample magnitude that drew america retired this way," said the couple.

Although they don't gamble, Robert says there's a method to his game.

"I person a spreadsheet that I did a past of the astir communal numbers picked implicit the past 20 years and it randomizes conscionable those numbers, it won't duplicate," Robert explained.

The estimated currency worth of the Mega Millions jackpot is $549.7 million.

But for the Kerners, the thought of winning is excessively far-fetched to consider.

"First happening I'd bash is astir apt scream. I'd ne'er thought of it," said the couple.

But aft immoderate thought, they accidental they'd stock the wealth.

"And decidedly donate to charities. Absolutely. I couldn't unrecorded with that much. There'd beryllium a batch of charitable contributions, a lot,"

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