Skip to content
The Present

Yes, Mega Millions just passed $1 billion. What does that look like?

It's hard to imagine such a number. But these images will help you try.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Megamillions_tickets.jpg

The Mega Millions lottery just passed $1 billion for tonight’s drawing.

What does that even look like, when represented by various currencies?

It takes just 6 numbers to win. You can only, however, purchase tickets up until 10:45 ET tonight.


Stacks of $100 bills adding up to $1 billion

Slideplayer.com

Here it is as represented by pallets of $100 bills

It will be the second-largest lottery jackpot, after the Power Ball lottery of January 2016 that netted nearly $1.6 billion. Of course, there are taxes to be paid, and then, the winner(s) have to decide on whether it’s paid out over time or in one lump sum, which decreases the total received.

I think at my age, I’d take it all at once. You?

$1 billion as $100 bills stacked one on top of the other

The Calculator Site

Here’s another way to look at it:

So … what are you odds of winning?

1 in 259 milion.

That’s a long shot. Compare it to other things:

Odds of being struck by lightning? 1 in 700,000.

Odds of being killed by a meteorite? 1 in 1.6 million.

Odds of being bitten by a shark? 1 in 3.75 million.

Just in case you, you know … want to buy a ticket. Or two.

Image by GeekOlogie

Another view of what $1 billion looks like:

CarmeloWalsh.Com

And … in $100 bills, $1 million versus $1 billion:

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

U.S. Mega Millions jackpot at $970M

www.youtube.com

(This was earlier today, when it was $970 million)

Related

Up Next