Mega Millions jackpot at $500 million and counting The Mega Millions jackpot has reached a record $500 million, the California Lottery announced Wednesday. The jackpot grew to an estimated $476 million after no one won the drawing Tuesday night, and there is expected to be much demand for tickets in the next few days in advance of Friday's drawing. California's Mega Millions record is a $390-million payout won in March 2007. Six five-of-five ticket winners were from Southern California, lottery officials announced Tuesday night. Three others were in Sacramento, Redding and Mill Valley in Northern California. The Southern California five-of-five tickets were purchased at Surf Liquor in Santa Monica, Stopper Liquor in Placentia, a 7-11 on Archibold Avenue in Corona, Tommy's Tobacco store in Imperial Beach, a Unocal 76 Station on Valley Boulevard in Fontana and an Arco AM/PM on University Parkway in San Bernardino. The numbers drawn Tuesday night were 9, 19, 34, 44, 51 and the mega number was 24. Lottery officials had placed the odds of winning Mega Millions at about 1 in 176 million. The retailer who sells the winning ticket will receive a maximum $1-million bonus. I've bought more than 20 but I haven't won a thing. I fill them out, a dollar, a dollar, a dollar and I say, 'Hopefully God gives me a few bills,'" said Marcos Garcia, a 47-year-old unemployed handyman from Boyle Heights. He was near Brooklyn Liquor, where he bought his tickets. Garcia said he will be watching for the Friday drawing. I'm going to buy five more or something. It's worth a shot," he said. Oof, I'd probably drop dead if I won. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/28/4372032/mega-millions-reaches-record-476.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy Anger over S.F. mass-killing suspect's deportation snafu Allegedly broke and ill, Dennis Rodman avoids jail time for now San Onofre: Report blames generator design changes for shutdown Hector Becerra and Robert J. Lopez twitter.com/LAJourno Photo: KTLA News