6th-largest Mega Millions jackpot of all time
By Todd Northrop
After its months-long build-up, the multi-state Mega Millions jackpot is finally starting to increase rapidly as tickets are bring scooped up by loyal and casual players alike.
In the Tuesday night Mega Millions drawing no player won the top prize, increasing the jackpot estimate for Friday night's Mega Millions drawing to $363 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $244.6 million.
That pegs the annuity jackpot as the 6th-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, and overall tied for the 15th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time. The cash option is the 9th-largest ever seen in any United States lottery game — and the third-largest Mega Millions cash value ever recorded. (See the full list of top-25 United States annuity and cash lottery jackpots below.)
The jackpot that Friday's Mega Millions grand prize is tied with at #15 on the list is rather significant to both Lottery Post and USA Mega, because that other $363 million jackpot was for The Big Game drawing on May 9, 2000 — the largest lottery jackpot the world had ever seen at the time, and the event that essentially launched BigGameLottery.com (the original name of USA Mega) and Lottery Post.
In fact, the first news post on USA Mega was "It's official! The Big Game is the largest jackpot in US history." Then on May 10th the exciting news that the record-setting jackpot was won was announced with the rather underwhelming-in-hindsight statement, "There were two winning tickets sold in Tuesday's record-setting $350 million jackpot." (Which was later discovered to be $363 million after the final tally of all ticket sales.)
To think that in the span of 15 years record-setting multi-state lottery jackpots went from $363 million to $1.6 billion is truly momentous. And during that time, Lottery Post and USA Mega have been documenting each rise and fall of every Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot.
However, in a blow to nostalgia, the next time a US jackpot cash value enters the top-25, it will knock the Big Game cash value from that May 2000 drawing ($180 million) off the chart.
Back to Friday's jackpot, lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 30 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 three and a half months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
In the latest Mega Millions drawing that took place this past Tuesday night, there was no jackpot winner, but 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Michigan and 1 from Texas.
Neither of the two second-place winners purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play. If they had, their prize would have been 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.
A total of 64 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 9 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $25,000, and 4 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing was $13,338.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, June 21, 2016, were 6, 13, 21, 49, and 50, with Mega Ball number 10. The Megaplier number was 5.
Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $30 million from its previous amount of $333 million. The cash value was raised by $18.4 million, from its previous amount of $226.2 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
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 15th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Friday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- 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
- Mega Millions: $363 million, Jun. 24, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- 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: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
- 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 9th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- 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: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Mega Millions: $244.6 million cash, Jun. 24, 2016 ($363 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- 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: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- 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
I'm excited to see when Todd wins this and self reports on his win with a selfie pic with the winning ticket
I hope it will end soon, as I'd just like to see someone win it, including myself.
Already, I expect a mult-way jackpot split.
Getting interesting, good luck players.
I'm ready for a smokin' red hot jackpot!
Gonna be interesting to watch this slowly roll into the billions.
Trends (back to back number pairs) won again last night.
I think after July 4th it will be hit. Just depends what the amt is. Maybe $450- $550 million.
I'm buying one ticket. That's all I'm willing to spend on a game with 258 million to 1 odds.
well heres to the next go round
My name isn't Todd but thanks for the support
If Todd ended up being the sole winner it would be interesting to see how LP changes as without a doubt there would be an influx of new members, many of whom would be antagonizing Todd for donations. Membership would double, after encountering unprecedented website crashes.
There she is...fifteenth place in the Lottery Jackpot hall of fame!
This has been a long run up. It still has a few more runs I believe. I think it runs between $550mil - $625mil. I would have accepted a $15mil Jackpot. But $363mil would be a world changing event. This will change many people's lives, is an under statement.
Hmmmm....$363M?? I love it!
Even the 30-year payment plan looks inviting. I do not know anyone who would complain about receiving a check in the mail once a year. It would be like a second Christmas or Birthday party.
This would take more discipline to not overspend. Live on a monthly budget of about $300,000.00/month. And a daily budget of $10,000.00/day.
What will you do with all of your free time? Do not underestimate this personal challenge.
Golfing, Shopping, Fishing, Hobbies, Volunteer for many different causes, College, Second career, Travel,
America offers so many choices to use your time wisely.