Mega Millions jackpot pays out $648m

A $648m Mega Millions jackpot has been shared by two winners.

The top prize, which has a cash value of $347.6m, will be split between tickets purchased in California and Georgia.

The lucky winners matched all five main numbers of 8-14-17-20-39 as well as a Mega Ball of 7, while a further 20 players scooped $1m each for matching just the five main numbers.

The jackpot for the 17 December draw was just short of the Mega Millions record of $656m, set in March 2012.

"It was a great run," said Mega Millions lead director Paula Otto.

Â"We have two jackpot winners, but the important programs supported by the 45 Mega Millions lotteries are the real winners.

Â"During this 22-drawing run, the lotteries generated more than $300m in profits for those programs."

Mega Millions tickets cost $1, with players picking five numbers between 1 and 56 alongside one number between 1 and 46.