Loyal Mega Millions players are getting more and more excited, as the multistate lottery's jackpot has risen to an impressive $144 million. If you plan to join the fun and buy a ticket today, then don't forget to also tune in at 11 p.m. ET, when the draw for the big prize is set to take place at the studios of WSB-TV, Atlanta's ABC affiliate.

If you take home the nifty nest egg and want to pocket every last penny, the total will be paid out to you 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" $89 million.

The lottery's winning numbers from the last drawing on Oct. 30 were 17, 41, 51, 53 and 56; the Mega Ball number was 15; and the Megaplier number was 5, according to the game's official website. The estimated jackpot had been $129 million, but no one matched the winning Mega Millions numbers on that day.

Friday's drawing did, however, produce at least two new millionaires: One player matched five numbers for a $1 million win, and another participant accomplished the same feat but also checked the Megaplier option -- used in some states to allow players to increase non-jackpot prize winnings by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times -- taking home no less than $5 million, the lottery detailed.

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 find out how to watch the Mega Millions drawings at 11 p.m. ET.