Mega Millions jackpot nearing $1 billion ahead of next drawing

Mega Millions lottery players will vie for a $965 million jackpot Friday after nobody won the grand prize this week.

The winning numbers Tuesday were the white balls 10, 13, 40, 42 and 46, and the separate gold ball 1, for a jackpot of $900 million. Since then, the jackpot has grown to an estimated $965 million.

The drawing Friday night will be the 40th since the last time the Mega Millions jackpot was won. That one was a $348 million prize matching a ticket bought in Virginia and drawn on June 27.

The $965 million prize at stake now is surpassed by seven previous Mega Millions jackpots, all over $1 billion.

If a player hits the jackpot in the next drawing, he or she will choose either a $443 million immediate lump sum or an annuitized option involving a smaller immediate sum and 29 subsequent annual payments, each 5% larger than the last.