$333 MILLION: Mega Millions jackpot continues climb

Jun 19, 2016, 1:07 pm (71 comments)

Mega Millions

Largest Mega Millions jackpot in more than 2 years

By Todd Northrop

The multi-state Mega Millions lottery game continued its months-long climb Friday night, and is now at the point where jackpot rolls are sharply increased.

After nobody won Friday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $333 million — the 21st-largest in U.S. lottery history and the largest since a $414 million Mega Millions jackpot was split between two tickets from Florida and Maryland on March 18, 2014.  (See Florida couple, nearly penniless, claim half of $414M lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, May 1, 2014.) 

The lump-sum cash value rose to a massive $226.2 million — the 13th-largest U.S. lottery cash value in history.

The complete top-25 U.S. lottery jackpots and cash value jackpots can be found below.

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 29 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on March 11 as a $15 million grand prize — it has been more than three months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.

The last big Mega Millions winner was Michael Burkett of Washington state, who claimed a $157 million jackpot in the March 8 Mega Millions drawing.  (See Washington Mega Millions winner claims $157 million jackpot, Lottery Post, Mar. 25, 2016.)

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 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a second-prize win: 1 from California, 1 from New Jersey, and 1 from Rhode Island. The California second-prize winner will be awarded $316,712, and the 2 winners from the other states will receive prizes of $1,00,000 each.

The second-prize winner from Rhode Island will come home with a much bigger $5 million prize, because they purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play.  So their prize was increased to $5 million, because the Megaplier number drawn was 5.

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.

Another 65 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 3 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $25,000, and 18 were sold in California, where the prize is worth $2,649 this drawing.

The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, June 17, 2016, were 20, 23, 30, 44, and 59, with Mega Ball number 9. The Megaplier number was 5.

Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $23 million from its previous amount of $310 million. The cash value was raised by $15.1 million, from its previous amount of $211.1 million. 

Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 44 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.

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 21st-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.

  1. Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  3. Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
  4. Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
  5. Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
  6. Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  7. Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  8. Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
  9. Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
  10. Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
  11. Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
  12. Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
  13. Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
  14. Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
  15. The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
  16. Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
  17. Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
  18. Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
  19. Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
  20. Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
  21. Mega Millions: $333 million, Jun. 21, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  22. The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
  23. Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
  24. Mega Millions: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
  25. Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York

For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:

  • Powerball: 13
  • Mega Millions: 10
  • 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 13th-largest cash value in U.S. history.

  1. Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  3. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
  4. Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  5. Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
  6. Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
  7. Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
  8. Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  9. Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
  10. Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
  11. Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
  12. Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
  13. Mega Millions: $226.2 million cash, Jun. 21, 2016 ($333 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  14. Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
  15. Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
  16. Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
  17. Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
  18. Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
  19. Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
  20. Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
  21. Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
  22. Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
  23. Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
  24. Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
  25. The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan

The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:

  • Powerball: 13
  • Mega Millions: 11
  • The Big Game: 1

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Bleudog101

THREE THREE THREE, what will be will be.   Come on now, add some chump change to make it $340 million.

Toronto

I want it!

charmed7's avatarcharmed7

I'm  in

jacintasc

I think it's time for Todd to win. And then he can post his own story of winning here on LP.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by jacintasc on Jun 19, 2016

I think it's time for Todd to win. And then he can post his own story of winning here on LP.

Maybe Todd won the $1 million in NJ last night. (Powerball).  He certainly deserves to win big time.

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

The nerve of some people to rate this story one star. It shows a total lack of respect.

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

In the article, it states

"The second-prize winner from New Jersey will come home with a much bigger $5 million prize, because they purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play.  So their prize was increased to $5 million, because the Megaplier number drawn was 5."

According to   http://nylottery.ny.gov/wps/portal/Home/Lottery/home/your+lottery/drawing+results/drawingresultsmega   it was the ticket purchased in Rhode Island that played the Megaplier to win $5 mil

Now's a good time for me to win this "LIFE CHANGING" JACKPOT!

jjtheprince

"Can't win" is too strong with this one, it'll roll into the billions like Powerball did.

music*'s avatarmusic*

 Lump Sum for me. My age, health, plus the low-interest rates on the annuity are factors.

 I might be able to invest it and gain more earnings then the annuity would bring.

 Inflation is another factor when thinking about the 30-year plan. Better to have one bird in hand than two in the bush.

 Have fun everybody since this is entertainment after all.Party

Groppo's avatarGroppo

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Jun 19, 2016

THREE THREE THREE, what will be will be.   Come on now, add some chump change to make it $340 million.

Yes, Yes, Yes.

Please folks, someone win it this time. Please, stick to your good, lucky, personal numbers.
And then add a few random numbers to play.

I'm guessing that the first Megamillions prize we see on Tuesday,
before the draw, will be 355.

Winner this time?   I say yes, more than likely.

Groppo's avatarGroppo

My laptop mouse screwed up.

It "forced" me to make a singe star vote on the article, instead of what I wanted to make.

msharkey2001's avatarmsharkey2001

Man I'd hate to be a lottery player in California seeing what their state pays for a 5 of 5 or even 4 of 5 compared to the majority of  other participating states.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by msharkey2001 on Jun 19, 2016

Man I'd hate to be a lottery player in California seeing what their state pays for a 5 of 5 or even 4 of 5 compared to the majority of  other participating states.

Yes, I agree 100%.  It sucks that they don't have Powerplay or Megaplier.  Sometimes I cringe when I see how 'low' the five numbers pay.  Occasionally, or should I say rarely, it will pay more than someone who doesn't spend the extra dollar.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by jjtheprince on Jun 19, 2016

"Can't win" is too strong with this one, it'll roll into the billions like Powerball did.

At this rate it'll take a long time to get to $1.5 billion like Powerball.  I still contend that if Powerball is won this time around, then Mega Millions will take off for the stratrosphere.

Subscribe to this news story