Mega Millions jackpot hits $290 million

What's better than getting rich through hard work, talent, and sacrifice? Winning the lottery, of course. The Mega Millions jackpot is up to a whopping $290 million. Anticipation is running high ahead of Friday's drawing.

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Searches on Yahoo! have more than doubled over the past 24 hours. Already, Web interest in "mega millions" is hotter than "The Hunger Games" and "Dancing With the Stars." The $290 million jackpot, which is sure to grow even fatter before the drawing occurs, is the eighth-largest jackpot in the history of the Mega Millions game.

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The Mega Millions lotto is played in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. There are six numbers in total. The first five run from 1 to 56. The sixth number runs from 1 to 46. You gotta match all six.

The odds? Not good. One in more than 175 million.