Mega Million Tickets Sold in Illinios, Kansas, Maryland

Updated 8:09 a.m.

Winning tickets sold in downstate Illinois, Kansas and.

Updated 10:08 p.m.

The winning numbers are 2-4-23-38-46 and the Mega Ball number is 23.

The Mega Millions jackpot is mind boggling.

The $540 million jackpot, expected to rise by tonight’s drawing, is half of a billion dollars—before taxes. The after-tax jackpot isn’t too shabby, about $250 million.

An obvious question is what would you do with that much money. Yes, the odds are out of this world. You are "50 times more likely to get hit by lightening than to win the lottery," according to one Huffington Post article.

Such statistics take the fun out of the fantasy. Who cares if it is really out of reach? It's just fun to daydream about the possibilities.

A few things to think about as you fantasize about your winnings:

• What you could buy for that much money?
• What should you do if you win?
• How do you handle sudden money?
• What are the odds, really?
• If you win, guard that ticket