The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $496 million ahead of the March 6 drawing, with a cash option of $232.6 million. This marks the first time the jackpot has reached this level since December, when a New Jersey ticket holder won $90 million. The game has been on a dry spell, with no jackpot winners in recent months.

Friday's drawing came just days after an Arkansas player won the $251 million Powerball jackpot. The winning numbers for the March 6 Mega Millions drawing were 8, 19, 26, 38, and 42, with a Mega Ball of 24. While no one claimed the jackpot, two players matched five balls plus the multiplier, winning $2 million and $4 million in Arizona and Florida respectively.

The jackpot has already risen to $533 million for the next drawing on March 10. Tickets cost $5 per play and drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern. The odds of winning the jackpot remain steep at 1 in 290,472,336, making this one of the largest lottery prizes available to players nationwide.