Mega Millions jackpot rises to $24 million

UNITED STATES – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Mega Millions players across the country are feeling the excitement as the jackpot continues to grow. When Tuesday's winning numbers were drawn, they turned 319,777 tickets into Mega Millions winners. Each of those tickets matched one of Mega Millions' nine prize levels. That includes two tickets that each won $250,000 by only missing the jackpot by one number -- the Mega Ball number. Since no ticket matched all six numbers, the jackpot grows to an estimated $24 million for the Friday, October 27, 2006 drawing.

The winning numbers in Tuesday's drawing were: 05-25-41-48-51 and the Mega Ball number was 35.

Mega Millions is played in 12 states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 PM Eastern Time, 10:00 PM Central Time and 8:00 PM Pacific Time.