8th-largest cash value jackpot in U.S. history
By Todd Northrop
After an astounding 31 drawings without a grand prize winner, Mega Millions features an enormous jackpot promising multi-generational wealth to a ticketholder with enough luck to overcome the 1 in 259 million odds stacked against them.
In the Friday night Mega Millions drawing no player won the top prize, increasing the jackpot estimate for Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing to $390 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $265.4 million.
The new amount raises the annuity jackpot ranking to the 4th-largest in Mega Millions history, and overall tied for the 12th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time. The cash option is the 8th-largest ever seen in any United States lottery game. (See the full list of top-25 United States annuity and cash lottery jackpots below.)
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.
In the latest Mega Millions drawing that took place this past Friday night, there was no jackpot winner, but 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arizona, 1 from Illinois, 1 from North Carolina, and 1 from Texas.
Only the winner from Texas purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play and increased their prize to $5 million, as the Megaplier drawn Friday 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 79 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 7 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $25,000, and 11 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $4,816.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, June 24, 2016, were 11, 14, 54, 57, and 63, with Mega Ball number 11. The Megaplier number was 5.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $27 million from its previous amount of $363 million. The cash value was raised by $20.8 million, from its previous amount of $244.6 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 12th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Tuesday 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, Jun. 28, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- 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 8th-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
- Mega Millions: $265.4 million cash, Jun. 28, 2016 ($390 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- 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
Would not mind grabbing this jackpot: whole or in part. All the best people, make it happen.Bring her reign to an end... Tonight!
I always try for the 5 regular balls, mega ball would be bonus, 1 million, sounds good to me.
What time is the California cut off for purchasing lottery tickets? Must be kind of early, like 7:30 p.m.
Maybe if no one wins tonight she'll jump up into twelfth place for Friday.
Good luck noise-gate; just bought another one on line and have two months left on my Mass. subscription and still nothing on MM or PB. just L4L and Megabucks Doubler. (You can buy, as you probably know, MegaBucks Doubler over the phone. I'd wait until the November sale to get seven weeks free). Check their website, last year they had a first time summer sale.
Nobody's gonna win.
This will roll into the multiple billions.
Massachusetts lottery sale 3 JUL-06 AUG 16 under the big sale on their website. May only renew Megabucks Doubler since my Brother takes his sweet time to get my tickets! Good luck noise-gate et al.
31 roll overs... jheez... even dung beetles make faster piles of...
Bleudog101, I am quoting from a Mega Millions play slip. For Mega Millions here in California the Draw Entry Closes at 7:45 pm TUE & FRI
Power Ball is different.
I am ready to keep the Lump Sum after all deductions and taxes will be $160,000,000.00 Just imagine what my stock broker will say when I start investing most of it. My real estate broker will also be happy to see me.
Why am I not taking the annuity? My age, health, the current interest rate, and the unknown future are all factors in my decision to take the cash.
Here in California, I will have to wait 6-8 weeks to get my check.
Although my heart says, "do the press event and the grip and grin photo shoot" I will use my head and say NO to both.
My first gifts will go to the family. Charity begins at home.
I will see you all in the winners circle. It has been fun!
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I hope there is at least a 12-way split, for the jackpot.
2nd place can be as many as will be, but I guess there will be 29 2nd placers.
A 12-way split will happen when a group wins. I guess the same applies to your 29 Second place winners.
I stopped to get one MM ticket with the Megaplier. I asked the cashier for a MM ticket with Megaplier. He said "You want a $2 mega?" I said, NO, I want one game with the multiplier. He gave me a $1 Mega ticket, without the Megaplier.
So, I ended up taking that ticket, plus a ticket with Megaplier after he finally understood that I wanted one game with Megaplier and not two $1 games.
Sometimes I think retailers do things like that on purpose because they know most of the time the customers will take the mistake tickets.
So...I will graciously accept $1 mil up to $5 mil or the whole enchilada!
The fortune cookie event..... It is entirely possible for 10 or 11 people to self pick the same combination given human nature. Add in 1 or 2 quick pick matches and thus a 12 way split.
I would never return to such a place, except to take their money by cashing in my winning tickets. Give money to the clean places with nice cashiers who know what they are doing and take money from places that aren't that.
I think somebody hits it next Tuesday as I am predicting it's sad that the way they have these lotteries operating
.
That's what I had to do, with the grocery store around the corner.
They act like lotto is some new thing that started a few weeks ago, and the whole world has now jumped on the lotto-wagon.
And now, they're sick of dealing with all lotto players.
It's a akin to some local banks that removed the coin sorters/counters, for folks who save
their change. I guess that Coin Star sued because they weren't getting their 8.9% fee.
It all sucks now: 1) Banks without coin sorters, 2) Store employees who deal with
players the same way the banks with coin machines that need frequent service did.
You can't complain to the state lotto hq, because they'll take the side of the useless store.
You can't complain to the banks because they'll tell you that all the banks in the area have removed their coin machines.
And the banks are right! I looked it up online, about coin machines in my area and sure enough, that was the case.
Fortunately, there's a convenience store down, a few miles where they're ALL well-oriented in lotto.
Of course, they have all the scratch-off games, and a sit-down area to do the keno and race track games.
AND YET, they don't speak nearly the level of English that the folks at the grocery store do!
But, having to switch stores, because of continual employee incompetence is a major inconvenience.