More Than $2 Billion in Lotto Winnings Up for Grabs This Week

The Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots have reached $2.2 billion combined — and counting — a life-changing amount of money for the lucky winner or winners. 

With no winner Friday, the Mega Millions jackpot is up to $1.6 billion, the largest in U.S. history, and the drawing is Tuesday night.

The Powerball prize has climbed to $620 million for Wednesday's drawing.

Gordon Medenica, the director of both Mega Millions and the Maryland Lottery and Gaming, told Inside Edition that selecting the winning numbers is totally random. 

He declined to say whether he recommends picking your own numbers or going with the computer's picks. 

“It's a totally random process, so in the end it's not gonna make any difference. But 95 percent of tickets are just quick picks,” he said. 

Many have joined office pools in hopes of winning big, but it often comes with a warning. 

“Have something written down, some agreement among the group so that you can decide who in fact owns these tickets and how you're gonna divvy up the results,” Medenica recommends. "Whoever is buying the tickets, [should] make photocopies for everybody."

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