$422 MILLION: Mega Millions lottery jackpot is red hot

Jul 18, 2018, 8:08 am (110 comments)

Mega Millions

19th-largest U.S. jackpot of all time

By Todd Northrop

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

After nobody won Tuesday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $422 million — the 19th-largest U.S. lottery jackpot of all time, and the biggest since a $533 million Mega Millions jackpot from the March 30 drawing was claimed by a New Jersey man.  (See NJ man claims $533 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, Apr. 13, 2018.) 

The lump-sum cash value rose to a massive $254.8 million — the 18th-largest U.S. lottery cash value in history. (The full top-25 list of U.S. lottery jackpots can be found below.)

Friday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 21 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on May 8 as a $40 million grand prize — it has been more than two months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.

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 Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Florida, 1 from New Jersey, and 1 from Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, none of the second-prize 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.

Another 25 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 2 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $50,000, and 2 were sold in California, where the prize is worth $23,737 this drawing.

The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, July 17, 2018, were 40, 41, 61, 66, and 67, with Mega Ball number 12. The Megaplier number was 5.

Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $47 million from its previous amount of $375 million. The cash value was raised by $28.1 million, from its previous amount of $226.7 million. 

The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 302 million. The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are 1 in 24.

Mega Millions tickets cost $2 each. For an extra $1 per ticket players can purchase the Megaplier option, which multiplies any non-jackpot won by up to 5 times, depending on the Megaplier number drawn that evening.

The only state that does not offer the Megaplier is California, because state law banning fixed lottery prize amounts is not compatible with the fixed nature of the Megaplier payouts.

Mega Millions features nine different prize levels, ranging from $2 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Mega Ball number.

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.

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 19th-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. Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
  3. Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  4. Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
  5. Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
  6. Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
  7. Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  8. Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 - New Hampshire
  9. Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
  10. Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 - New Jersey
  11. Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
  12. Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 - Pennsylvania
  13. Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 - Florida
  14. Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  15. Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
  16. Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
  17. Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
  18. Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
  19. Mega Millions: $422 million, Jul. 20, 2018 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  20. Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
  21. Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
  22. Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
  23. Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
  24. Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey

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

  • Powerball: 15
  • Mega Millions: 10

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 18th-largest cash value in U.S. history.

  1. Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
  3. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  4. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
  5. Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  6. Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
  7. Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
  8. Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
  9. Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
  10. Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
  11. Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
  12. Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
  13. Mega Millions: $281.9 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($451 million annuity) - Florida
  14. Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
  15. Powerball: $273.9 million cash, Mar. 17, 2018 ($456.7 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
  16. Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
  17. Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  18. Mega Millions: $254.8 million cash, Jul. 20, 2018 ($422 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  19. Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
  20. Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
  21. Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
  22. Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
  23. Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
  24. Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
  25. Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan

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

  • Powerball: 15
  • Mega Millions: 10

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

I got my tickets!!!!!!!

Dance

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Jul 18, 2018

I got my tickets!!!!!!!

Dance

Time 4 the big money

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Jul 18, 2018

I got my tickets!!!!!!!

Dance

Hey dpoly1, can you purchase these on-line in Pennsylvania?  I've got to wait four more days for some reason for the repair to be activated so KY lottery knows I'm in KY.

 

Got mine too, just now, conveniently #12 came in QP MM #.

Bleudog101

Aside from feel good stories, always like this kind of story that puts things in perspective.  Kind of hoping it isn't won for a while so the standings will move up from 18.

misslucky$

Have your kindergarten or first grade child or grandchild pick you numbers and you’re due to win..no joke!!! And that’s any numbers... they pick better than us

Bleudog101

Welcome to LP; tried to send you a private message but it didn't work.

Anyway good idea there, might be the way to win.

Bought 15 weeks worth of MM/MP & PB/PP in Detroit 3 weeks ago. 

Have tried unsuccessfully to get your lottery to put a beginning and end date on advance plays.  They did write back and said good idea and MAY consider it in the future.  How hard is it to program the computer to do that?  I even called them and am tempted to find out who provides lottery services there, I think I know.

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

$422    Annuity   No No

$254,800,000.00 CASH  Thumbs Up

MINUS FEDERAL TAXES      $94,276,000.00   Puke

 

TAKE HOME.......Drum........................................................

 

      $160,524,000.00     

                      Hyper

Just about in order below:

https:/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrSVkTRb24/www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrSVkTRb24

https://nsx.acura.com/explore/nsx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63UhYQyizaA    (This maybe optional...yeah yeah, I know.. but I can dream)

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Jul 18, 2018

Hey dpoly1, can you purchase these on-line in Pennsylvania?  I've got to wait four more days for some reason for the repair to be activated so KY lottery knows I'm in KY.

 

Got mine too, just now, conveniently #12 came in QP MM #.

IDK

I just go to the convenience store down the street

Sorry I couldn't help 

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Jul 18, 2018

$422    Annuity   No No

$254,800,000.00 CASH  Thumbs Up

MINUS FEDERAL TAXES      $94,276,000.00   Puke

 

TAKE HOME.......Drum........................................................

 

      $160,524,000.00     

                      Hyper

Just about in order below:

https:/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrSVkTRb24/www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrSVkTRb24

https://nsx.acura.com/explore/nsx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63UhYQyizaA    (This maybe optional...yeah yeah, I know.. but I can dream)

I Agree!  These amounts still impress me and I am stunned by how large the jackpots can be.

Crazy

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Jul 18, 2018

I Agree!  These amounts still impress me and I am stunned by how large the jackpots can be.

Crazy

I Agree!

It seems to me lottery fatigue can set in.  Then to reward us loyal players both of the biggies have changed the odds making it harder than ever to win the Jackpot.  OTOH I love it when the mathematician types say you have a better chance of this and that than winning the lottery.  Yet they remain silent when someone beats the odds and takes the cake.

lejardin's avatarlejardin

I dont like the odds at all like everyone else and it can be very discouraging BUT someone always wins, why cant it be you or me?  We all have about the same chance of winning, with a few variables!  And it is that hope that keeps me coming back for more.

msharkey2001's avatarmsharkey2001

Quote: Originally posted by misslucky$ on Jul 18, 2018

Have your kindergarten or first grade child or grandchild pick you numbers and you’re due to win..no joke!!! And that’s any numbers... they pick better than us

My my little guy is starting Kindergarden in 6 weeks, does that count?

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Quote: Originally posted by lejardin on Jul 18, 2018

I dont like the odds at all like everyone else and it can be very discouraging BUT someone always wins, why cant it be you or me?  We all have about the same chance of winning, with a few variables!  And it is that hope that keeps me coming back for more.

Perfect............I Agree!

noise-gate

Could not help thinking about that scene in “ breaking Bad” where our resident “ cooker” is gazing at that stack of cash in a pallet. What a mouth watering scene! That right there folks is what it is all about. Money, you got to love it, despite what people may or may not say.

It’s a refreshing sight, no matter what angle you look at! Hope a member wins.

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