Lottery ticket-holders in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland each selected the winning numbers for the world record-breaking 640 million dollar Mega Millions jackpot, officials have said.

The winning Illinois ticket was sold in the small town of Red Bud, near St Louis, and the winner used a quick pick to select the numbers, Illinois Lottery spokesman Mike Lang said.

The Maryland Lottery said it sold a winning ticket at a store in Baltimore County.

A winning ticket also was purchased in north-east Kansas, according to the Kansas Lottery website.

Each winning ticket was expected to be worth more than 213 million dollars before taxes, Mr Lang said. The winning numbers in Friday night's draw were 02, 04, 23, 38 and 46, and the Mega Ball 23.

Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Carole Everett said the last time a ticket from the state won a major national jackpot was in 2008.

"We're thrilled," she said.

The estimated jackpot dwarfs the previous 390 million dollars record, which was split in 2007 by two winners who bought tickets in Georgia and New Jersey.

Americans spent nearly 1.5 billion dollars for a chance to hit the jackpot. The odds of winning the jackpot were 1 in 176 million.

From coast to coast, people stood in line at retail stores yesterday for one last chance at striking it rich.