22nd-largest U.S. jackpot of all time
By Todd Northrop
The multi-state Mega Millions lottery game continued its Autumn 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 $405 million — the 22nd-largest U.S. lottery jackpot of all time, and the biggest since a $543 million Mega Millions jackpot from the July 24 drawing was claimed by a group of 11 California bank workers. (See California office pool claims $543 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, Aug. 3, 2018.)
The lump-sum cash value rose to a massive $235 million — the 22nd-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 20 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on July 27 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.
Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing was a no-show for second prize winners too — nobody matched 5 numbers without the Mega Ball for a $1,000,000 prize.
However 30 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 6 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $30,000, and 6 were sold in California, where the prize is worth $6,611 this drawing.
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.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, were 2, 22, 29, 31, and 34, with Mega Ball number 1. The Megaplier number was 3.
Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $38 million from its previous amount of $367 million. The cash value was raised by $22 million, from its previous amount of $213 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 22nd-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.
- 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: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 - Pennsylvania
- 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
- Mega Millions: $405 million, Oct. 5, 2018 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
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 22nd-largest cash value 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
- Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $320.5 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($543 million annuity) - California
- 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: $273.9 million cash, Mar. 17, 2018 ($456.7 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- 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: $235 million cash, Oct. 5, 2018 ($405 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 11
A winning ticket will happen
+$38M is an aggressive increase. I doubt it will reach that level by draw time. We shall see. Best of luck!
"Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing was a no-show for second prize winners too — nobody matched 5 numbers without the Mega Ball for a $1,000,000 prize."
I did take note of this as well as the number of 4+1 winners with only one number that is not a birthday number this re-affirms for the umpteenth time that people play birthday numbers heavily.
The way I did my pyramid I had two number . I had 32 not 31.
Aside from 'feel good stories' these are my favorites the rankings of lottery jackpots.
Just back from Canada and this time played Lotto Max-$60 CD for five weeks.
Yes, it is time to ascend the ladder of increasing jackpots. Where will it stop nobody knows.
22nd highest all time, eh. People won't get excited till it hits at least the top 10. 405 Million just ain't enough any more.
https://pixabay.com/photo-1736520/
I am very excited over it, I will take it, not a problem!!!
Me too! Let's split it.
I know it sits in 22nd place on the jackpot scale, but l would like to put an end to it’s swelling, and take it home this Friday. I want to visit The Seychelles, but avoid the Ganges at all costs.
Speaking of foreign lands. Would you help the tsunami victims in Indonesia? Possibly through the Red Cross?
It is extremely difficult for some communities to prepare for natural disasters.
America's reputation as a generous nation is warranted and well deserved. As the leader of free nations, we set a very good example in helping others both here and abroad.
As an author penned, "No man is an island". "For whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee".
As a nation of immigrants, we remember our homelands.
.
From where I sit, the drawing is just under 2 hours away.
I just want to win 1 million, but If something should happen, and I win a heck of a lot more,
I'm going to fix certain problems in my life, and then proceed to do the revocable trust thing,
thanks to member "Music*'s" suggestion, a while back.
Mr. Groppo
Groppo, It is the Living Revocable Trust. Please remember us here at Lottery Post and fill us in on things like the cost and time involved with creating it. Do remember to fund it. Your Trust and Estate Attorney can explain what, "funding it" means.
Thank You for mentioning my LP name.
With a little under 25 million tickets sold there was less than a 10% chance of somebody winning the jackpot and the expectations of only one 5 + 0 winner. Anybody know the California 5 + 0 is?