The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an astonishing $977 million ahead of Friday night's drawing, after no winning ticket matched all six numbers for the $893 million jackpot on Tuesday. The numbers drawn were 24, 46, 49, 62, 66, and the gold ball 7, with the prize money building for 29 consecutive drawings since the last winning jackpot on December 8. This is only the sixth time in the game's history that the jackpot has reached such a high amount, with the five jackpots that topped it all being over $1 billion.

The sole winner of the jackpot on Friday could choose to be paid in a lump sum of about $461 million before taxes or through an annuity for the full amount with annual payments over 30 years. Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the jackpot are roughly 1 in 302.6 million.

The Powerball jackpot has also been steadily growing, reaching an estimated $687 million ahead of Wednesday night's drawing. The last jackpot win in that game was on New Year's Day. Mega Millions drawings take place at 11 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays and Fridays, with the odds of winning a jackpot being one-in-302,575,350. It remains to be seen if Friday's drawing will produce a lucky winner for the nearly $1 billion prize.