Due numbers
Five due numbers
- 9
- 10
- 14
- 20
- 29
One dueMega Ballnumber
- 1
Not due numbers
Five not due numbers
- 5
- 22
- 62
- 66
- 67
One not dueMega Ballnumber
- 8
Prizes and odds
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
| Overall odds of winning a prize in Mega Millions are 1 in 24. | ||
Megaplier prizes and odds
Game schedule
| Draw day | Draw time | Sales close |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 p.m. ET | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Friday | 11:00 p.m. ET | Varies by jurisdiction |
10 biggest jackpot wins
| Rank | Jackpot | Numbers | Draw Date | Location | Winner Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $1.6 Billion |
| Aug 08, 2023 | FL | Saltines Holdings, LLC |
| 2nd | $1.54 Billion |
| Oct 23, 2018 | SC | Pending |
| 3rd | $1.35 Billion |
| Jan 13, 2023 | ME | LaKoma Island Investments, LLC |
| 4th | $1.34 Billion |
| Jul 29, 2022 | IL | Anonymous partnership |
| 5th | $1.13 Billion |
| Mar 26, 2024 | NJ | Pending |
| 6th | $1.05 Billion |
| Jan 22, 2021 | MI | Wolverine FLL Club, of Oakland County |
| 7th | $656 Million |
| Mar 30, 2012 | IL, KS, MD | • Merle and Patricia Butler (IL) • Anonymous (KS) • The Three Amigos (MD) |
| 8th | $648 Million |
| Dec 17, 2013 | CA, GA | • Steve Tran (CA) • Ira Curry (GA) |
| 9th | $552 Million |
| Jun 04, 2024 | IL | MEGA Millionaire |
| 10th | $543 Million |
| Jul 24, 2018 | CA | 11-member office pool from Santa Clara County |
Things to know
Mega Millions is played in 45 states in the U.S. as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It was introduced in 1996 as the Big Game and then relaunched in 2002 as Mega Millions.
California doesn’t offer the Megaplier.
New York and California have had the most winners for Mega Millions.
In some states, Just the Jackpot plays are only available as Quick Picks.
Players can enter the same numbers in multiple draws. The maximum number of consecutive draws varies depending on the jurisdiction.
California is the only state where all prizes are pari-mutuel.
Advanced draws
Mega Millions players have the option of purchasing tickets for draws in advance. However, the maximum number of draws varies by jurisdiction. Here’s a complete list of the participating jurisdictions and their corresponding limits on advance draw purchases for Mega Millions.
| State | Advanced Draws |
|---|---|
| Arizona | up to 10 |
| Arkansas | up to 20 |
| California | up to 10 |
| Colorado | up to 26 |
| Connecticut | up to 26 |
| Delaware | up to 10 |
| District of Columbia | up to 20 |
| Florida | up to 26 |
| Georgia | up to 26 |
| Idaho | up to 10 |
| Illinois | up to 25 |
| Indiana | up to 10 |
| Iowa | up to 10 |
| Kansas | up to 15 |
| Kentucky | up to 26 |
| Louisiana | up to 20 |
| Maine | up to 20 |
| Maryland | up to 15 |
| Massachusetts | up to 7 |
| Michigan | up to 30 |
| Minnesota | up to 14 |
| Mississippi | up to 26 |
| Missouri | up to 15 |
| Montana | up to 24 |
| Nebraska | up to 24 |
| New Hampshire | up to 20 |
| New Jersey | up to 8 |
| New Mexico | up to 20 |
| New York | up to 26 |
| North Carolina | up to 26 |
| North Dakota | up to 9 |
| Ohio | up to 10 |
| Oklahoma | up to 10 |
| Oregon | up to 20 |
| Pennsylvania | up to 26 |
| Rhode Island | up to 26 |
| South Carolina | up to 20 |
| South Dakota | up to 9 |
| Tennessee | up to 10 |
| Texas | up to 10 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | N/A |
| Vermont | up to 20 |
| Virginia | up to 26 |
| Washington | up to 10 |
| West Virginia | up to 24 |
| Wisconsin | up to 8 |
| Wyoming | up to 20 |
History
Mega Millions is a massive U.S. lottery with jackpots that are frequently in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars. Read on for a brief history of this ever-popular game.
- 1996
- The Big Game was launched in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia.
- One draw was held every Friday.
- The first draw took place in September 1996.
- 1998
- Tuesday was added as a new draw day in February.
- 1999
- New Jersey started selling tickets.
- New game matrix: 5/50 + 1/36.
- The cash payout option was introduced.
- 2002
- The Big Game was renamed Mega Millions.
- The first draw took place on May 17.
- Ohio, New York, and Washington started selling tickets.
- New game matrix: 5/52 + 1/52.
- 2003
- Texas started selling tickets.
- A new multiplier called the Megaplier was launched only in Texas.
- 2005
- California started selling tickets.
- New game matrix: 5/56 + 1/46.
- 2010
- By the end of January, 23 more states started selling tickets.
- Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Arizona, Maine, Colorado, South Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined Mega Millions.
- 2011
- Louisiana started selling tickets.
- Megaplier became available in some of the participating jurisdictions.
- 2013
- Florida started selling tickets.
- New game format: 5/75 + 1/15.
- 2014
- Wyoming started selling tickets.
- 2017
- New game format: 5/70 + 1/25.
- The starting jackpot was set at $40 million.
- Just the Jackpot feature was added in certain jurisdictions.
- 2020
- Mississippi started selling tickets.
- The starting jackpot guaranteed value was removed, and it is now dependent on the ticket sales and interest rates.
- The $5 million minimum jackpot increase on rollovers was removed.
FAQs
Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball number from 1 to 25, or select Quick Pick. Add the Megaplier option for a chance to multiply any non-jackpot winnings.
The Quick Pick play generates random numbers to use in the draw so that you don’t have to come up with your own.
It’s the sixth number on your ticket, ranging between 1 and 25. Matching it wins you at least $2.
A Megaplier number from 2 to 5 is drawn on the night of every Mega Millions draw. Players who select the Megaplier option have their non-jackpot prizes multiplied by that number. All participating Mega Millions states offer the Megaplier option except for California. The Megaplier costs an additional $1.
Just the Jackpot is a feature that gives players two sets of numbers that are only valid for the jackpot. It's offered in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. When playing Just the Jackpot, non-jackpot prizes are not available. In some states, the numbers are Quick Pick only.
If you win the jackpot, you can either have it paid as a one-time cash lump sum, or as an annuity with annual payments made over 29 years. To compare the two options, check out our annuity cash converter tool
The cash lump sum is the money immediately available, generated from the sale of Mega Millions tickets. The annuity option invests the cash lump sum in government bonds over 29 years, so it gains interest over time. Use our annuity payment schedule tool view an estimate of these annual payments.
Mega Millions draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. PT, 10:00 p.m. CT, and 9:00 p.m. MT.
Draws are held in Atlanta, Georgia, at WSB-TV.
No. Mega Millions is sold by individual state lotteries, so you must redeem your winning ticket in the state in which it was purchased.
Mega Millions is played in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Check the Lottery USA homepage or our Mega Millions page. You can also use our Mega Millions number checker.
All lottery prizes are taxed at the federal level, and most states also tax lottery winnings. Taking a cash lump sum payout can push you into a higher tax bracket. See our tax calculator to find out how much you will owe if you win the jackpot.
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