The estimated $290 million jackpot would also be the sixth-biggest in U.S. history. The biggest was the $363 million jackpot that went to two winners in a May 2000 drawing of The Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor.

The game is played in eleven states, including Georgia.

"Larger jackpots are exciting for lottery players," said Georgia Lottery Corporation President and CEO Margaret DeFrancisco. "Even more exciting is knowing that education in the state of Georgia is the ultimate winner."

Mega Millions offers players two payment options: 26 annual payments in equal installments or a single check worth the cash value of the estimated jackpot. Any lucky Mega Millions player who matches all five white ball numbers, along with the Mega Ball number, could walk away with over $11.1 million a year (before taxes) for 26 years with the annuity option. Or a player could pre-select the cash option and win a single check worth more than $163 million (before taxes).