If your monthly budget is stretched out in these final days of January and you'd like to boost it - considerably - then you might consider investing in a Mega Millions ticket for the Jan. 28 drawing.

The big prize for the multistate lottery has risen to a sizeable $56 million for tonight's event, and if you do choose to participate, then you might also want to tune in at 11 p.m. ET. That is when the draw is set to take place at the studios of WSB-TV, Atlanta's ABC affiliate.

If you take home the jackpot and want to pocket every last penny, the total will be paid out in annual installments over a 29-year period. Otherwise, you also have the option of an immediate lump sum, which, however, means that you will forfeit a bit to taxes and be stuck with "only" $35 million.

Drawing produces three new millionaires

The lottery's winning numbers from the last drawing on Jan. 26 were 14, 27, 39, 50 and 69; the Mega Ball number was 2; and the Megaplier number was 2, according to the game's official website. The estimated jackpot was $48 million, but no lucky player matched the winning Mega Millions numbers on that day, the multistate lottery noted.

But the Jan. 26 did produce a few new millionaires since three participants were able to match five numbers, the lottery detailed. Two of them took home $1 million each, while the third had checked the Megaplier option and thus pocketed $2 million; Megaplier is used in some states, which allows players to increase non-jackpot prize winnings by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times.

Lottery available in 43 states, D.C., Virgin Islands

Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday, and the draw entry closes at 10:45 p.m. ET. Tickets for the game are sold in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands - a total of 45 jurisdictions. The odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 15, but your chances of hitting the jackpot are only about 1 in 259 million.

If you want to find out how close you are to hitting the jackpot and settling into the life of a millionaire, then click here to learn how to watch the Mega Millions drawings at 11 p.m. ET.

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