Mega Millions could hit $1 billion jackpot by Christmas WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. lotto officials said it's possible the already whopping $585 million Mega Millions jackpot could hit $1 billion -- that's with a 'b' -- by Christmas. After a rules change in October made winning the jackpot considerably more difficult because more numbers were added to the pool, no one has won the grand prize. The odds of doing so, CNN reported, are 1 in 259 million. To put that in perspective, you're more likely to be killed by a falling asteroid. But someone has to win eventually, right? Maybe not anytime soon, officials said. Friday's jackpot hit $550 million. It's already jumped to $585 million, making it the second-largest payout in U.S. history. As the jackpot grows higher and higher, so, too, does participation -- meaning it could hit the first 10-digit lotto payout ever by year's end.