RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) -Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing promises the chance for one lucky player to claim a grand prize.

The jackpot has surged to $560 million, marking game history as one of the top 10 jackpots ever recorded.

Should a winner emerge, they will face the decision of accepting the jackpot as a lucrative annuity or opting for an immediate cash payout of $258.4 million.

Mark Michalko, the executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery, expressed the escalating anticipation among players, stating, “When a jackpot lands in the top 10 in Mega Millions history, the excitement level among players really starts to rise. Just remember it only takes one lucky $2 ticket to win the whole thing. Good luck tonight.”

North Carolinians have been experiencing notable successes with Mega Millions, evidenced by the impressive statistics:

• 23,356: The total number of winning tickets from Friday’s Mega Millions drawing in North Carolina.
• $7.3 million: The estimated amount raised for education in North Carolina during the current Mega Millions run.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever claimed was on August 8, 2023, when a single ticket sold in Florida secured a staggering $1.6 billion jackpot.