The Mega Millions jackpot ballooned to an estimated $977 million ahead of Friday night's drawing, in what would be the tenth-largest top prize in U.S. lottery history.

The drawing is set for 11 p.m. EDT.

A winner - assuming that they're the only one with the lucky combination of numbers - would have their choice of an estimated $977 million paid over a 30-year annuity or a lump sum of about $461 million.

But should Friday night's drawing fail to yield a jackpot winner, the prize will likely roll past the $1 billion mark for the next drawing.

Coming into Friday, 29 drawings had passed without a jackpot winner since the last one on Dec. 8, allowing the total to gradually grow.

The Powerball jackpot, meanwhile, had grown to an estimated $750 million as of Friday morning. The next drawing in that game will take place Saturday night.