10th-largest US jackpot of all time
By Todd Northrop
This holiday season someone will be able to afford gifts unlike any they have ever given before, as the multi-state Mega Millions lottery jackpot is soaring to historic levels.
After nobody won Friday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $344 million — the largest since the record-setting $656 million jackpot set on March 30, 2012, and the 10th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time (see full list below).
The lump-sum cash value also rose to a knee-weakening $184 million.
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 19 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on October 4 as a $12 million grand prize — it has been more than two months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. Occasionally the official jackpot estimate is raised even before the drawing, due to larger-than-expected sales.
In Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Illinois, 1 from Michigan, 1 from Ohio, and 1 from Washington.
Unfortunately, none of the four second-prize winners purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play. If they had, their prize would have been increased to $3 million, because the Megaplier number drawn was 3.
The Megaplier option is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered with the Megaplier is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
Also, a total of 77 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 9 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $5,220.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, December 6, 2013, were 11, 29, 44, 63, and 64, with Mega Ball number 3. The Megaplier number was 3.
Ineterestingly, it is the second drawing in a row in which both the Mega Ball and Megaplier were 3. In fact, the Mega Ball number has been a 3 in three of the last four drawings.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $47 million from its previous amount of $297 million. The cash value was raised by $25.1 million, from its previous amount of $158.9 million.
The official jackpot estimates for Friday's drawing were raised prior to the drawing due to stronger-than-expected sales. (See $297 MILLION: Mega Millions jackpot raised again before tonight's drawing, Lottery Post, Dec. 6, 2013.)
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.
A 44th Mega Millions state may be added in early 2014, as the state of Wyoming has approved a new state lottery with the intention of joining multi-state lottery games. (See Wyoming officially becomes 44th state with a lottery, Lottery Post, Mar. 14, 2013.)
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 10th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Mega Millions: $344 million, Dec. 10, 2013 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 26, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295 million, Aug. 25, 2001 - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $294 million, Jul. 2, 2004 - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $276.3 million, Mar. 15, 2008 - West Virgina
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 9
- Powerball: 14
- The Big Game: 2
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 15th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $194.4. million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $184 million cash, Dec. 10, 2013 ($344 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
- Powerball: $166 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $164.4 million cash, won Oct. 19, 2005 ($340 million annuity) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $164 million cash, Feb. 28, 2006 ($270 million annuity) - Ohio
- Powerball: $161.5 million cash, July 29, 1998 ($295.7 million annuity) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $156.1 million cash, Sept. 16, 2005 ($258 million annuity) - New Jersey
About $110,000,000 after Federal Redistribution!
I'll take it!
Good luck to all LP Members ..............
What is the Deal with These People Not Spending the extra ONE DOLLAR for MEGA PLAY???? Congrats to them but COME ON!!!!! Remember people, the jackpot odds are through the roof, so it makes sense to hedge for the maximum amount second/third/fourth place prize. Get it together people!!! hahahaha
The reason being that the majority of those people are simply playing for the jackpot and not the lowerprices. They want two chances at the jackpot insgead of one chance at it for the same price. For a second prize of 2 to 5 millions most people prefer to play the state lottery which has way better odds at winning those amounts. Hope that helped.
Hear Hear!!!!!
the annuity part sounds good to me
If it gets to $900 million plus, would you opt for annuity or cash payout????
Ya gotta be in it to win it!
Looks like now the jackpot would have to be near a billion for the cash option to have an attempt to take the top spot
This one is going to keep growing.
110 Mil +, After Feds cut".…....
Anyone got a ballpark idea of how much money you would make a month
on simple interest?? I've run out fingers and toes to count on.
YES SLICK!!!! The chances of winning are next to impossible, but someone has to win, mathematics and the law of Physics insists on this!!!! Gotta to be in it. Good luck to you for a second prize winner x 5 multiplier. Jackpot already assigned to me by the Universe:
Good luck everyone. .......I'm in it to win itl
Smart players always play MM with megaplier.
$344M after 19 draws?. Sorry guys, not growing fast enough. Maybe it's JP fatigue. I thought by now, it should be somewhere near $650M. Yaaaaaawn.