By Todd Northrop
Lottery fever is spreading across the USA with two huge jackpots adding up to $800 million.
The ability to walk into a lottery retailer and purchase two separate opportunities to win nearly a half-billion dollars is unprecedented. This is only the second time in history that two US lottery games have combined to $800 million or more.
Powerball grew overnight to $455 million for Saturday's drawing. Meanwhile Friday's Mega Millions jackpot stands at $345 million — its highest amount in more than two months.
The winning numbers from Wednesday's Powerball drawing were 6, 12, 24, 41, and 68, with Powerball number 9. The Power Play was 3.
The Powerball jackpot has grown since Jan. 10, when it started as a $40 million jackpot, and has rolled 19 times. Powerball offers two jackpot payment options: the $455 million annuity prize paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $269.4 million.
Mega Millions began growing Jan. 9 as a $40 million jackpot, and has rolled 19 times. This is the first jackpot run for Mega Millions that began at the new starting point of $40 million. Previously Mega Millions jackpot started at $15 million, until new rules were adopted on Oct. 31, 2017.
Mega Millions offers two jackpot payment options: the $345 million jackpot prize paid over 29 years in 30 graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $205 million.
As a result of today's jackpot increase, Powerball is now the 11th-largest US lottery jackpot in history, and Mega Millions is the 26th-largest ever.
If nobody wins Mega Millions Friday and the jackpot rolls, the game will knock the final top-25 jackpot of its previous incarnation — The Big Game — out of the list. The top-25 US lottery annuity and cash value jackpots can be found below.
Mega Millions and Powerball tickets are $2 per play and can be purchased at lottery retailers in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Mega Millions is not offered in Puerto Rico.)
Players looking for a nearby lottery retailer — or that out-of-the-way retailer with a smaller line — are encouraged to use Lottery Places, an app for iOS, Android, and Windows that can locate the nearest lottery retailers in every jurisdiction that sells Powerball and Mega Millions. The helpful app can locate lottery retailers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, much of Canada, and the Caribbean.
Mega Millions players can multiply prizes with the Megaplier option for an additional $1 per play. In several (but not all) states, Mega Millions also offers a new optional $3 wager called Just the Jackpot that allows players to receive two entries for a chance to win the game's jackpot prize only.
Powerball players can multiply prizes with the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play.
Top 25 26 United States lottery jackpots of all time
The current Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots currently stand as the 11th- and 26th-largest lottery jackpots of all time in the United States. Both positions 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.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
- 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: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $455 million, Mar. 17, 2018 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 - Florida
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
- 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: $345 million, Mar. 16, 2018 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 8
- The Big Game: 1
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 28 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.
The upcoming Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots rank as the 14th- and 28th-largest cash values in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- 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
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $281.9 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($451 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $269.4 million cash, Mar. 17, 2018 ($455 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- 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: $205 million cash, Mar. 16, 2018 ($345 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
I'm part of a 40 member lottery pool out of Virginia. The winning ticket will be won there on Saturday.
Once again big dreams and big money. I would be content with 10 or 15million.
That being said, I wouldn't mind winning PB and/or MM this weekend!
I like to play guess that state where I try to determine in what state(s) one of the winners will be from.
I'm thinking Florida/Philadelphia/or Indiana
But what I want is Virginia ;D
As you all know, there has been a jackpot winner drought in CA. We hope to end it. We not greedy, either jackpot would do us just fine.l have a good feeling about this!
ppm,
Didn't know Philadelphia is a state! Golly!
Quick, ya never know, you may just win it!!! Good luck.. :)
LOL CoinToss, to funny!!!
I hear you noise-gate. S. Lake Tahoe tickets still good until 4 APR 18.
My favorite part of LP is when Todd posts the lotteries hall of fame as I call it where MM & PB stand and here it is.
Also like the even numbers of $800 million.
Good Luck everyone!!
Just need to get some Indiana tickets!
Finally got MUSL's correct phone #. Not happy with the new PB website not having secondary prizes listed anymore. They must be aware because Kathy said we were working on it but it won't be this week!
California will have 3 second prize winners. The bigger question is when do you all think we will see a winner Im thinking the 21st or the 28th (power ball). I don't really play mega too much but if it reaches 450M I'll succumb.
40? How long has this pool been together? Hope you guys have everything in writing - copies etc.
Yeah lottery pools would freak me out ....I've seen too many shady people to count in my life time. Not to mention the people who don't play that will be wanting in as soon as you win big smh but hopefully your pool is nothing of the sort ;D
CA does not like 2nd prize jackpots. That rumor you heard of,is false. So you don’t play until it’s in the stratosphere? All other players have to pitch in their hard earned $$ to built it up for you? Talk about a selfish P..*
LOL it's just that I don't really like playing multiple games at once, try to stick to PB only but when it gets super high (which it usually doesn't) I always hear that voice calling out *play me, play me*. Also I agree with CA second price crap and having to split it with multiple wins although i guess sharing is caring ;D. Im really thinking Indiana is going to win the whole pot
We must stop this lucky streak.
So what you say ppm is, you really don’t like playing.. but you like winning, just as long as other suckers can accommodate your idiosyncratic behavior? Ok.
Music I really wish I knew LOL
All i know is that if I win in virginia Im going to sue to claim anonymously like my senpai Jane Doe. (just kidding folks)
I really just want to see some states you never see winning that would be great
Has to be the water M* Been saying it for years. Just check this out.
NY- Water.
NJ-Water.
Mich-Water.
Florida-Water.
PR-Water.
CA-Water.
TX-Water.
* It’s a no brainer. When you read of States like Colorado or Idaho winning the jackpot, it’s simply the lottery gods being mischievous, by throwing a bone just to get a rise out of the players.
No, no, nope. After looking at those top 25 jackpots and there has only been 1 winner from Texas ?
We are gonna have to put the cure to that lil issue this weekend !!! even that slice a pizza lookin'-state New Hampster has had 2 of the top 10 winners.....
We are putting the Habius Grabus on that, right shortly I reckon...either Rcbbuckeye and/or myself have planned on taking 1 of these big prizes home with us---MAYBE BOTH !
.....Indiana
....Virginia 
.... California
.....New York 
.... Florida ? aww HECK NO !!!!
GIMME a "T" for TEXAS
oHIo
For Entertainment purpose Only.
* If a State is too RED- that’s what you get!
Well, we have our share of snowflakes in this state. Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
Not proud of that. Probably transplants from CA.
Thank You, rcbbuckeye for accepting the snowflakes and transplants from CA. Maybe a little bit of Conservatism will rub off on them.
Let us see Texas in the winner's column this weekend. Don't mess with Texas.
Pennsylvania is due for a big win!
Much like a cup of coffee rcb, you have to pour enough milk in to turn it from black or brown- perhaps those transplants are not thinning the “Red” enough, or they were just passing through CA & didn’t carry enough of our pixie dust to deposit in your fair State. l was surprised to read that you guys have only won once. Lightning will strike for you guys when the time is ripe. We all in the “ hoping its me pool” & no one has the edge, when all is said and done.
Lol. Not selfish at all and many do the same, including me. You do not owe any lottery player $.
Other than some of the best private schools in the country, it is not a heavily populated state. Maybe it is all the snow ! Lol
DC is way overdue.
I plan to pick up some tickets from MD I would loop through DC on my way home but its just so crowded trying to drive through there.
I work in DC and take metro home so almost always buy my tickets in DC. Already have my betting slips filled out! Going crazy and buying 2 pb tickets. Lol The jp should be half a billion by Saturday.
MD is the best choice but not ever convenient for me.
That is a jackpot that we wait for and play for.
Come on Lottery Post Members & Staff let's win this one.
Obviously, I have not been drinking enough! Excuse me but I am off to guzzle more water!
I just took a trip to MD to buy some tickets lol I wasn't really doing anything and I felt like cruising. Does MD lottery not provide future plays.... I asked the young pretty woman that worked their if I could purchase a ticket for Wednesday and she looked at me like i was stupid
I remember some time last year I drove like over 2 hrs to PA (from N. Virginia) to buy a few PB tickets and didn't win anything. Spent like $30+ too. I will never do that again
..and not just any water- Sea Water. Why do you think there are such few winners?
If someone in New Hampshire wins again it could be very interesting!
Oh Lord please no.
First off... why are a lot of you using big size fonts? Are we getting that old that we cant read smaller fonts anymore?
Time for stronger glasses? 
OK, now that that's out of the way, I purchase one Mega and one PB ticket for every draw since as we all know...."You have to be in it to win it."
Today, I think I will purchase two tickets for each MM & PB and I will be adding the multiplier to each ticket. and, they will both be quick-picks.
On Tuesday, my kid bought 1 each qp MM & PB and won $10 on MM for 3/5 and $100 on PB for 3/5 + PB#. Not bad for a $4 investment! It would have been $350 if the tickets were purchased with the multiplier.
The closest I have come to winning was back in Dec 2014.
I purchased a $5 (5 lines) MM quick-pick and had all six winning numbers on the ticket. Just not all 6 on the same line. I had the MM # on first line, one of the 5 numbers on second line and 4 of the 5 on fourth line.
I won $501.
Sea Water is hard to find in Indiana! But I'll just get out my "shaker of salt" and improvise!
Was just kidding Saylorgirl- sea water is deadly to the human body, the kidneys can’t handle it. My point was in line with your name “ Sailorgirl” or a variety of. Nice sense of humor- be well!
Wow TMM- still have your ticket from 4 years ago, now that’s dedication for you -
That's ok I was going to use my "shaker of salt" with my Margaritas! And yes, I was born "A daughter of a Son of a Sailor". I am most defiantly living in the wrong state. But I will do my best and take a win for the state of Indiana.
Sorry Saylor................ It's time for a Texas Resident to take that award.... And after my win I will graciously thank you for your donation