We go behind the fascinating scenes in the Mega Millions jackpot drawing studio
Gio Benitez (right) talked to presenter host John Crow at the Mega Millions headquarters in Atlanta before the 2018 draw of $1.6 billion.
How does the live Mega Millions draw work? With a real possibility of another billion-dollar windfall coming, the Mega Millions’ next drawing on Tuesday, July 26 will be very important.
So we checked out this interview (above) for a look at what happens behind the scenes for the $1.6 billion draw (starts at 1:00).
The live draw with John Crow for the Mega Millions $1.6 Billion jackpot, Tuesday, October 23, 2018.
In this rare behind-the-scenes glimpse, ABC News' Gio Benitez talked to presenter host John Crow at the Mega Millions headquarters in Atlanta, where the numbers for the 2018 $1.6 billion jackpot were drawn.
John said in the Good Morning America clip, “It’s exciting to know that I’m calling numbers that can change somebody’s life.”
Gio acknowledged that the balls in the draw barrels were not the actual ones used in the draw. “Those are in a safe, we can’t show it to you for security reasons,” he commented.
“But an auditor is going to be inspecting those balls before the drawing, and tonight those numbers could make someone very happy,” said Gio.
A single ticket bought in South Carolina grabbed the record-breaking Mega Millions $1.537 Billion jackpot prize in 2018.
Four Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far in 2022. As well as the most recent Tennessee win at $15 million on April 15, the three other jackpots were won here:
California ($426 million on January 28)
New York ($128 million on March 8)
Minnesota ($110 million on April 12; that state’s very first Mega Millions jackpot win).
The top Mega Millions jackpots to date are: