Mega Millions: No California jackpot winners, but 29 had 5 of 6 numbers
No tickets purchased in California in the Mega Millions lottery had all six numbers to win the $640-million jackpot Friday, California Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez said after reviewing preliminary sales data.
But 29 tickets sold in the state had five of the six numbers and were likely to pay in the high six figures, Lopez said, recalling that Tuesday's smaller purse gave each of the five-of-six winners $363,000.
It wasn't immediately known whether anyone elsewhere in the country had all six numbers, Lopez said.
Meanwhile, Mega Millions officials in Atlanta said participants spent at least $1.5 billion on tickets in the 42 states and two territories where the lottery is played.
Southern Californians wanting in on the historic -- if astronomically small -- chance to be fabulously wealthy waited in lines for as long as five hours to get a stake in the dream, but many were turned away as their chance of getting to the cash register by the 7:45 p.m. cutoff closed in.
Thousands of Nevadans drove to neighboring states to get in on the action, since Nevada doesn't participate in the massive twice-weekly gamble.
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-- Carol J. Williams
Photo: A sign for the Mega Millions game at Liquorland in Covina. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
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