Mega Millions jackpot climbs to $344 million -- highest this year

 The jackpot in the Mega Millions lottery will be $344 million for Tuesday’s drawing – the biggest this year -- after a two-week winless streak was extended Friday night.The 11 p.m. ET drawing could result in a near-record U.S. payout, after no one claimed the top prize of $297 million on Friday.The previous record Mega Millions payout -- $656 million in March 2012 – was split three ways, with each winner taking home $157.8 million after taxes.More recently, an anonymous ticket holder in Anne Arundel County, Md., won $189 million on Oct. 1, though that prize that remains unclaimed.If a single winner were to claim Tuesday’s prize and chose a cash prize instead of an annuity, it would amount to $184 million, according to the Mega Millions website.The increase in prize values is partly because of rule changes lottery officials instituted on Oct. 22, aimed at creating bigger and faster-growing jackpots.  Mega Millions is legal in 43 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.