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| Record Mega Millions jackpot tops $540m | Record Mega Millions jackpot tops $540m |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The prize in a US lottery has reached a record-breaking $540m (£340m), making it the biggest lottery jackpot in history, organisers say. | The prize in a US lottery has reached a record-breaking $540m (£340m), making it the biggest lottery jackpot in history, organisers say. |
| The size of the Mega Millions jackpot has been growing since 24 January, with no winner matching all five numbers in the last 18 draws. | |
| Local US media have reported queues of people waiting to buy tickets to earn their shot at winning the giant prize. | Local US media have reported queues of people waiting to buy tickets to earn their shot at winning the giant prize. |
| A total of 42 US states sell tickets for the draw. | A total of 42 US states sell tickets for the draw. |
| The big draw takes place on Friday at 23:00 EDT (04:00 GMT). | |
| A jackpot winner could choose between receiving the full amount of $540m in 26 annual payments - nearly $21m a year - or an instant cash option of almost $400m. | |
| The largest jackpot to be paid out until now was a $390m Mega Millions prize that was split between two winners in 2007. | The largest jackpot to be paid out until now was a $390m Mega Millions prize that was split between two winners in 2007. |
| Despite the growing lottery fever, the chances are still stacked against any one person winning the six-ball jackpot. | Despite the growing lottery fever, the chances are still stacked against any one person winning the six-ball jackpot. |
| Lottery officials say the chance of winning is just one-in-176 million. Tickets cost just $1. | |
| Mathematics professor Mike Catalano of Dakota Wesleyan University told the Associated Press news agency: "You are about 50 times as likely to get struck by lightning as to win the lottery, based on the 90 people a year getting struck by lightning. | |
| "Of course, if you buy 50 tickets, you've equalised your chances of winning the jackpot with getting struck by lightning." | |
| Based on other US averages, a person is 8,000 times more likely to be murdered, or 20,000 times more likely to die in a car accident than to win the lottery, Mr Catalano added. |