Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that’s still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.22 billion, evoking headlines and likely luring more people to convenience stores with dreams of private spacewalks above the Earth. It doesn’t seem to matter that the nation’s top 10 jackpots — not including this one — already have boasted 10-figure payouts. For many of us, something stirs inside when a number ticks one dollar above $999,999,999. “The question lurking is, what happens when $1 billion becomes routine and people don’t care about it anymore?” said Jonathan D. Cohen, author of the 2022 book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” “There’s no easy round number after a billion,” Cohen said. “But also, how much money can one person possibly, possibly, possibly need?” Meanwhile, Mega Millions’ ticket prices will rise from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts. Here’s brief history of lotteries and why jackpots are growing: Lotteries date back to at least ancient Rome Cohen notes in his book that lotteries have existed in one form or another for more than 4,000 years. In Rome, emperors and nobles held drawings at dinner parties and awarded prizes that ranged from terra cotta vases to people who were enslaved. As early as the 1400s, lotteries were used in Europe to fund city defenses and other public works. Sweepstakes were common in the American colonies, helping to pay for the revolution against Britain. Cohen noted in his book that Thomas Jefferson approved of lotteries, writing that they were a tax “laid on the willing only.” Lotteries began to fall out of favor in the U.S. in the 1800s because of concerns over fraud, mismanagement and impacts on poor people. But starting in the 1960s, states began to legalize them to help address financial shortfalls without raising taxes. “Lotteries were seen as budgetary miracles, the chance for states to make revenue appear seemingly out of thin air,” Cohen wrote. Mega Millions’ first jackpot started at $5 million When Mega Millions started in 1996, it was called “The Big Game” and involved only six states. It was meant to compete with Powerball, which then had 20 states and the District of Columbia. The original payout for The Big Game started at $5 million. The value would be nearly twice that today accounting for inflation. In 2024 dollars, the before-taxes prize could buy a rare copy of the U.S. Constitution or cover Michael Soroka’s $9 million contract to pitch next season for the Washington Nationals. By contrast, the pre-tax winnings from Friday’s Mega Millions prize could theoretically buy a Major League Baseball team. The Nationals would be too expensive. But Forbes recently valued the Miami Marlins at $1 billion. A better comparison might be Taylor Swift’s tour revenue at the end of 2023. Her Eras Tour became the first to earn more than $1 billion after selling more than 4 million tickets. Swift, however, was expected to bring in a total of more than $2 billion when her tour finally wrapped up Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar. Why jackpots are getting bigger These days, Mega Millions and its lottery compatriot Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico. In October, Mega Millions said it hoped increased ticket revenue and less stratospheric odds would lead to more people winning, even as prizes grow extraordinarily high. Games with massive payouts tend to be more popular despite the slimmer odds. Larger jackpots also attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players, Cohen said. Lottery officials have allowed the odds to become lower with a larger pool of numbers to pick from, Cohen said. And that has made games harder to win, leading to payouts rolling over into even larger prizes. The first $1 billion jackpot was in 2016. Cohen said he expects the upward trajectory to continue. Meanwhile, he warned against the tropes of the troubled or bankrupt lottery winner. A well-known example is Andrew “Jack” Whittaker Jr. He won a record Powerball jackpot after buying a single ticket in 2002 but quickly fell victim to scandals, lawsuits and personal setbacks as he endured constant requests for money, leaving him unable to trust others. Most winners don’t turn out like him, Cohen said. “Even if we deny it, we all sort of believe in the meritocracy — this belief that if you won your money through luck, then you probably didn’t actually deserve it,” Cohen said. And yet various studies have shown “lottery winners are happier, healthier and wealthier than the rest of us.” (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed Remember this moment because it probably won't last: A U.S. Sales rose this year during the holiday shopping season even Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall StreetRussian state news agencies say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is in Moscow and given asylum
Statistics after 13 gamesWho is Olivia Ponton? All you need to know about Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who called cops for Joe Burrow READ MORE: Joe Burrow's $7.5m Cincinnati mansion broken into during game By JAKE NISSE and OLIVER SALT Published: 23:16, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 23:42, 10 December 2024 e-mail View comments When Joe Burrow's Cincinnati mansion was burgled on Monday night, it was model Olivia Ponton - and not his long-term girlfriend Olivia Holzmacher - who reported the break-in. According to TMZ Sports , Ponton called police after the break-in at around 8:14pm on Monday, while Burrow was many miles away in Dallas playing the Cowboys. Documents from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office claim Ponton is 'employed by Mr. Burrow,' though it's unclear why she was at his home. Neither she nor Burrow have publicly commented regarding the situation yet, while it's also unclear if the quarterback and Holzmacher are still together. Nonetheless, there is plenty of public information out there regarding Ponton, who boasts 7.6million TikTok followers and has modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Here's what we know about her. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was the victim of a break-in while he was in Dallas The woman at the house who placed the call was later identified as model Olivia Ponton Burrow was believed to be with long-time girlfriend Olivia Holzmacher, though it's unclear if they are still together Who is Olivia Ponton? Ponton is a 22-year-old model and social media influencer who has worked with major brands in the fashion industry. Aside from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, she has also posed for Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren, Boss and Tory Burch. After signing with Wilhelmina as a teenager, she is currently with IMG Models - while she's also represented by influencer management company Digital Brand Architects. She initially made her name on social media, as she was part of the 'Hype House' on TikTok after initially going viral on the platform in high school, according to an interview with Flaunt . That fame was parlayed into her becoming a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model in 2022 and 2023. Ponton has also began dipping her toes into the acting world, as she made cameo in the movie 'It Ends with Us' earlier this year, according to Cosmopolitan . Ponton poses backstage for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show During Paraiso Miami Beach on July 16, 2022 Ponton is a popular social media influencer with 7.6million TikTok followers She also shares frequent snaps to her Instagram account, which has nearly 3million followers Where is she from? Ponton hails from Naples, Florida and attended Naples High School, as per her IMDb profile . 'I forget not everyone grows up near the beach, [laughs] so I sometimes can't relate,' she told Flaunt. 'Being so close to something like that is amazing, I'm glad my parents raised me there. It did shape me because I'm travel-oriented.' Ponton would later move to Los Angeles to join 'Hype House' while continuing to grow her modeling career as well. Is she in a relationship? While it's not clear why Ponton was at Burrow's home, the model gave a clue into her relationship status in an interview published on Tuesday. 'I think everyone has a 'revenge era' at some point in their life,' she told Cosmopolitan. 'While I'm not in mine now - I'm very happy and content - about two years ago, I definitely went through that phase.' There don't appear to be any photos of her with a significant other on her Instagram page. Ponton said in an interview published on Tuesday that she was 'very happy and content' She walked the runway for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit two years ago in Miami, Florida What does she post about on social media? Ponton has cultivated a massive audience on TikTok through a blend of fashion and lifestyle content. Read More BREAKING NEWS Salacious twist in suspicious burglary at Joe Burrow's mansion as he dominated Monday Night Football A pinned post which has received 4.6million views shows what she eats in a day while shooting for Victoria's Secret, while she also records 'hauls' of the clothing she receives and 'get ready with me' videos. Ponton will also post workout videos for her followers and overall provides an intimate look at her exciting life. On Instagram, Ponton posts more of her professional modeling pictures and work to her nearly three million followers on the platform. She previously described to Flaunt how she cultivated a large online presence. 'I tell people that I post a lot on my Instagram,' she said. 'I post every single day, it's super important to be engaged with who comments on your photos. Posting a lot and making sure you're talking to people on social media. @iamoliviaponton definitely also had alot of chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, WATER XOXO🎀 ♬ original sound - olivia ponton She appears to be at least a casual sports fan as she attended a Jets game in September Is she a sports fan? Ponton's online presence suggests that - outside of her connection to Burrow - she is at least a casual sports fan. She has posted TikToks of her visiting F1 events - namely the Austin GP in October - while she also seems to be somewhat of a football fan as well. Ponton was seen at the Jets' home loss to the Broncos earlier this season at MetLife Stadium. Furthermore, she also has a background in sports herself, as she competed in track and water skiing in her younger days. Cincinnati Bengals Share or comment on this article: Who is Olivia Ponton? All you need to know about Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who called cops for Joe Burrow e-mail Add commentMiss Manners: I only want some of the people in my walking group to attend my party ... this is a problem
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Lok Swaraj Padayatra flagged off in BelagaviWASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars' worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Recommended Videos It was one of several evening announcements Trump made via his social media platform, including that he was naming Kimberly Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece, a longtime supporter who was engaged to his son Don Jr., and ally and former inaugural chairman Tom Barrack as Ambassador to Turkey. Ferguson is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC's antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC's efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump's orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan's scrutiny of Big Tech firms. Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign. Trump called her “a close friend and ally,” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” She had been engaged to Don Jr. since 2020, they arrived together at the convention center on election night and she was on stage with the family. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, and Dan Bishop as deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management. ___None
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Published 22:02 IST, December 28th 2024 BJP leader and grandson of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, NV Subhash said the Congress disrespected Rao after his demise. Hyderabad: On the issue of allocating space for a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, BJP leader and grandson of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, NV Subhash, on Saturday, said, “The Congress disrespected Narasimha Rao after his demise. It persuaded us to move his mortal remains to Hyderabad and assured us that a memorial site would be built for him in Hyderabad even though he had spent most of his life in Delhi.” Criticising the Congress for its duplicity in honouring its own leaders, he added, “Today, the Congress party's hypocrisy has been exposed. They ill-treated their leaders. The cabinet has clearly approved Congress' demand. They are playing petty politics on the whims and fancies of the dynastic rule of the Congress party.” The BJP accused the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi of indulging in politics over the funeral of Singh. Addressing a press conference here, BJP national spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra came down heavily on Gandhi for stating that the Narendra Modi government disrespected Singh by conducting his funeral at Nigambodh Ghat, whereas for other former prime ministers the last rites were performed at sites where memorials were authorised to be built later. "It is unfortunate that the BJP has to address a press conference on the subject relating to the funeral of Dr Singh... since his death, the Centre has been preparing to construct a memorial for him," Patra said. "A cabinet meeting was called and a condolence message was issued. It was also decided to pay proper respects to the former PM befitting to his stature. The cabinet has informed both Dr Singh's family and the Congress that a memorial will be built so that everyone can remember his positive contribution. However, time is needed for land acquisition, forming a trust and other formalities. At the same time, cremation should be done as it cannot wait," Patra said. The BJP leader also alleged that the grand old party had "insulted" its leaders - former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao and ex-President Pranab Mukherjee - in the past. (with PTI inputs) Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 22:03 IST, December 28th 2024