By Todd Northrop
With strong sales around the country, the estimated jackpot for Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing has been raised to $454 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $319 million cash.
It's the third largest jackpot in Mega Millions history and the seventh-largest jackpot ever seen in US lottery history.
The jackpot has been growing since it was last won on March 8 by Michael Burkett in Washington, who received a $157 million prize.
The only other jackpot won this year was a $169 million prize in New York; the winner of that January 8 drawing, Nancy Viola, was reported last week by Lottery Post. Her husband, sent to the store to buy a Powerball ticket, accidentally purchased a Mega Millions ticket, which turned out to be the big winner.
So will someone celebrate their independence from financial worries tonight, or will the big prize keep building? We'll find out in the wee hours of the morning, after the 11:00 pm drawing.
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 7th-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
- Mega Millions: $454 million, Jul. 5, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- 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 7th-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
- Mega Millions: $319 million cash, Jul. 5, 2016 ($454 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $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 hope someone wins
Best of Luck MM Players!
Good Fortune Hunting Lottery Post members. Let's all make this a memorable win by a LP Member.
Make sure you have at least one #5 for date...
21 was in there on the 21st... They cheat mad hard like this...
21 "randomly" comes on 21st ... I don't think so lol
Line at store was at the door earlier...
I want it
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Mr. Wander73,
I certainly hope so too, and hope for a single jp winner (3 jp winners, at the most).
For 2nd place, I'd hope for a million such winners, to include every regular and Admin, here on LP,
but my 'real guess' will be 20+ 2nd place winners.
But, the main thing is for someone to win the jp, and stop the thing from rolling over.
I'm going now, to get some extra numbers for tonight's game.
Expect anything to happen.
Mr. Groppo
That's why i always buy my tickets on the day after the previous drawing.
I live in NYS and visited Maryland(one a several states that have winner anonymity) last week where I played 4 lines with the megaplier for 10 multi-draws, so I'm set.
One Ticket!
One Winner!
With 3 top ten all time jackpots through six months this has been a pretty good year so far for MM/PB syndicate.
This lottery crap is bull!! Just checked the cash 4 and I missed by 1 number.Bullsh..it! Everytime I play im off by 1 freaking number.Here in Ga.There is something really strange about this lottery here and I think it needs to be look into.
Good luck to all players!
Gonna try this megamillions bull<snip> now.Im gonna get 1 freakin ticket on a qp.Losing to muvh on this stinking cash4 <snip>.Ten dollars a day , <snip> they aint giving me none of my money back.This randomly generated system <snip> is jinxed!!
Over the weekend I bought two quick picks. Woke up this morning (in a daze thinking it was Wednesday) and checked the MM numbers on the lottery website. I didn't match any numbers so I threw the tickets in the trash. An hour later I realized the drawing is tonight! LOL...Good thing I didn't tear them up. Just a little crumpled. Sad but true.
good luck to those playing .... and I hope its a single ticket winner
With this jackpot, you can expect red carpet treatment from all your so called ducks. Enjoy it!
LiveInGreenBay, Thank You for your example of how not to check your ticket. I have made the same mistake.
Sometimes huge jackpots go unclaimed. How many winning tickets end up in a landfill?
I bet way way fewer than the number of losing tickets that end up in a landfill!
If I should be the winner...I hope, I hope, I hope... I will know exactly where the ticket is and will be claiming my prize after securing financial and legal assistance.
I'm someone
Isn't this also how many winner stories go? "I thought I didn't win but realized my mistake and had to dive in the dumpster?"
LOL...Thanks for the laugh Think. That was a good one.
You're not someone...You're Think.
Continuing to post messages containing profanity is a sure way to get suspended.
I wanna go the Robinson's way - hire a crappy, money grubbing lawyer and hit the talk shows before going to the lottery to cash the ticket!
Wonder if there will EVER be anyone who does it worse then them?
Speaking of them, anyone know anything new since they won?
I bought 3 picks at different locations may get another one tonight if I happen to make an errand. Those tickets will sit inside the side pocket on my purse so no chance of misplacing/losing them.
Good luck to you tonight.
The Robinsons learned the hard way. They are a wholesome family so I believe they will remain private from now on to the best of their ability. No Jack Whitaker there.
I was thinking about the Chino Hills winner and that is a rich neighborhood so they can afford to wait.
If I win tonight then I can expect to collect $192,680,000.00 after all taxes and the deduction are taken out. Here in California, I will wait six to eight weeks to get the check.
I was watching the video of the Robinsons and Joe said that he did not feel well the night of the draw. I hope he has recovered from that illness. All the best to them.
"Maybe" they'll up the ante to $460 million...
PSA. Reason #5 to recycle. Because if you accidentally throw out a lottery ticket, it will still be in your bin (and coffee grounds/peach pits/chicken juice free) when the news comes out that a big winner was sold in your town.
l am so ready to carry the weight of responsibility by being the winner or having a piece of THIS jackpot. I will accept the cheque with all humility.
Nevertheless- all the best people. 
Make it Rain.
Hey Man, l said l am ready, you just don't know how ready l am Music.I couldn't be more Readier* is there such a word? Mother Nature is just going to have to back off...This once. My neighbor needs a new set of dentures, l am willing to pick up the tab, generosity at work here bud.
This means that I am going to win since I have to see the Doctor tomorrow!
I found the following by Lotto*Love posted August 4,2008 5:19pm
I predict no winners AGAIN.
Ithe will be won July 8th
January 8...NY
March 8 WA
July 8....well, I have tickets in PA, DC, MD, OH and FL...
I will take either one
At least you have two anonymous states to win from....I only have Kentucky and Massachusetts.
.
Mr. JJ The Prince,
Please don't say that. Somebody needs to win the doggone thing, this time.
I don't think I can handle another non-winner, this time.
OK?
Mr. Groppo
I think I have more tickets than I have ever had for a single drawing. I have 7 little lines of hopes and dreams!
Good luck everyone!
Let's all win $1,000,000 at least!!!
At least $1 mil sounds good to me lulu
Pretty sure most wouldn't complain about $1 mil, but having that 1 more number sure wouldn't hurt!
Well, I got two lines...
If I stop posting for a while you will know why lol ... GL all
Only 1 number right for me bummer ...
As I thought, no one won. Jackpot's up to $508 million. NICE! Best of luck for Friday's drawing!
I actually didn't buy any tonight because I had a funny feeling this would happen, so all the money I had for tonight is now going to Friday's drawing in addition to any money I'll have saved up for that day. YAY! Good luck, everybuddy!
Good morning to the LP community.
This MM JP is already a truly big one. The cash option (which I would consider the figure that matters most) at 357 M is the second biggest in MM hhistory. And if won by a single ticketholder, only G. Mackenzie's PB (370.9 M cash) win would be ahead overall. Given that the JP has now surpassed the half billion Mark I could well imagine that the final tally for cash will be more than the now advertised 357 M(agnum :-). Gold luck everyone!
July 8th people.....
Now that half a billion is surpassed I'm getting in despite the odds. 5 lines and yes I megaply.
It's starting to become true...
https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/304162/4680972
"Can't win" is SO powerful with this one!
The real story here is the small interest rates are killing the "Jackpot."
(Not really thru the cash prize is the actual Jackpot after all.)
in 2013 a 347.6 million cash Jackpot amount ended up as a 636 million annuity.
Now our 357.7 million cash Jackpot amount is giving us a 508 million annuity.
That's how strongly the government interest rates affect the annuity amount. The annuity is what brings in masses.
The irony being the masses would all be told by their financial experts if they won to take the cash and invest it in the market. The annuity amount may as will not exist today. (I'm not kidding.)
In a typical interest rate environment, it is another story.
I am of the firm opinion that, at current rates, the annuity option is one of the worst possible investments in the entire world for any winner to take.
Did anyone even come close?
I was close! I only needed six more numbers to win!
Well that's closer than me. LOL
Tonight we chase after a sizable Powerball Jackpot.
It's not record breaking, but it would be life changing!
Welcome to the Lottery Post
The only good thing about taking the annuity would be if you blew through all of the money you got from the first check....you get another check the following year, for 29 years.
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5 Quick Picks for Mega Millions
Generated by Lottery Post's exclusive Quick Picks Generator
https://www.lotterypost.com/quickpicks
Well you got the Mega Ball (5) Right