$25.2 million grand prize to be drawn Thursday
The jackpot for the New Jersey Lottery's Pick 6 drawing has quietly climbed to $25.2 million — making it the largest prize the game has offered in more than 14 years.
That may seem like a paltry sum compared to the multi-state Powerball and Mega Millions games, which now have minimums jackpots of $40 million. But the odds of winning the Pick 6 jackpot are much better at about 1 in 14 million compared to Powerball (1 in 292 million) and Mega Millions (1 in 302.5 million).
The Pick 6 cash option for Thursday's 7:57 p.m. drawing is $17.1 million. It's the largest Pick 6 drawing since a $35.5 million jackpot was won on May 10, 2004, according to data provided by New Jersey lottery officials.
It's been nearly nine months since a lucky player bought a Pick 6 ticket that won the $9.6 million jackpot for the Feb. 15 drawing at a stationery store in Bergenfield.
Since then, the jackpot for the twice-weekly drawing has rolled over a whopping 75 times.
On Monday, 15 ticket holders matched five numbers. Thirteen won $3,547 apiece while two players won $10,641 because each spent an additional $1 for the XTRA option. Monday's winning numbers were: 1, 6, 17, 31, 36, and 47.
If someone hits the jackpot Thursday, it will be the fourth-largest prize Pick 6 prize since 2001, which is as far back as state lottery officials' records date. The largest Pick 6 jackpot hit since then was a $48.9 million prize won on Feb. 6, 2001. Pick 6 drawings started in May 1980.
The matrix of numbers ranges from 1 to 49.
Largest Pick 6 jackpots since 2001
- February 6, 2001 - $48,900,000
- June 3, 2002 - $45,900,000
- May 10, 2004 - $35,500,000
- June 4, 2009 - $24,250,000
- June 25, 2012 - $21,500,000
- June 16, 2014- $20,100,000
- November 20, 2005 - $20,000,000
- January 14, 2010 - $16,500,000
- October 23, 2006- $15,500,000
- June 26, 2003 - $13,900,000
- April 28, 2008 - $13,500,000
- December 12, 2013 - $12,800,000
- September 1, 2011 - $12,200,000
- July 12, 2007 - $12,000,000
After our Chief Bottle Washer and all around good guy, Todd Northrop wins this in his Home State what will the media sensation be like here?
Good Luck to all the players!
That would be well deserved.
If still no won by EOM December will take the jitney to play the NJ lotto.
Still no jackpot winner. Monday's 6/6 is $25.8 mil
Best of luck to all that are participating. Sure would a nice amount to take home for retirement. The cash value with that game looks very nice as well (imho)...Go get em kids !!
No winner; jackpot went to $25.8 million.
The real jackpot (cash value) is $17.5 million. Pre-tax, a $1 ticket is worth $1.41.
After tax, about 80-85 cents. This is a good time to buy.
It's sad that this is actually news! The jackpots here in MI used to get up to $20,000,000 to $35,000,000 all the time before the multi state games came in.
Now, it takes years for a decent winnable jackpot while we all get to sit back and watch as the multi state games get won only 3 to 5 times each per year.
Good luck to everyone who buys a ticket for this roll on the NJ pick 6
Todd,
You're still in the running! Up to $26.1 million.