$1.1 BILLION: Rush of Mega Millions lottery sales prompts officials to raise jackpot estimate

Jul 28, 2022, 12:40 pm (55 comments)

Mega Millions

Now the 3rd-largest lottery jackpot in history

By Todd Northrop

A rush of lottery ticket sales for the $1.025 billion Mega Millions jackpot has prompted lottery officials to revise their estimate for the Friday night drawing just one day after it was announced to $1.1 billion — an increase of $75 million.

The increased jackpot now ranks as the 3rd-largest lottery jackpot in history, and the 2nd-largest in Mega Millions game history.

The all-important lump-sum cash value is now estimated to be a staggering $648.2 million. Its ranking as the 4th-largest lottery cash value remains unchanged.

Friday's drawing will be the 30th since Mega Millions had a winner. The current jackpot run-up started on April 19 as a $20 million grand prize.

Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Friday night are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com). State lottery websites are normally sluggish or brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.

Mega Millions drawing results will be posted immediately after the 11:00 pm drawing at USA Mega. The number of winners and new jackpot will be announced after all participating states have reported their data, which normally occurs within a few hours after the drawing.

Tickets sales cutoff times vary by state, so players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time Friday night. Players are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute to buy tickets.

To find the nearest lottery retailer to buy your tickets, head over to the Lottery Places website to download the free app on your iOS or Android phone or Windows computer. Lottery Places is the only app on the market that will locate lottery retailers in every state and jurisdiction throughout the United States.

Some state lotteries offer online ticket purchases, allowing players to bypass the store completely. Such is the case with Michigan and Virginia. Other states such as Minnesota, Orgeon, and Texas use a state-licensed courier service to enable online purchases. Players outside the USA can use a reputable butler service that delivers scanned images of the lottery tickets to verify the ticket purchase and ownership. In the past, the lottery ticket service was used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.

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.

Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Mega Millions Jackpot Analysis page.

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.

Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time

Friday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 3rd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States.

  1. Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
  3. Mega Millions: $1.1 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  4. Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
  5. Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
  6. Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
  7. Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
  8. Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
  9. Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
  10. Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  11. Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
  12. Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
  13. Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
  14. Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
  15. Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  16. Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
  17. Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 (22 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
  18. Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 (34 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Indiana
  19. Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Jersey
  20. Mega Millions: $522 million, Jun. 7, 2019 (24 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
  21. Mega Millions: $516 million, May 21, 2021 (26 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Pennsylvania
  22. Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
  23. Powerball: $473.1 million, Apr. 27, 2022 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Arizona
  24. Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 (19 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Pennsylvania
  25. Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Florida

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

  • Powerball: 14
  • Mega Millions: 11

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 6th-largest cash value in U.S. history.

  1. Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
  3. Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
  4. Mega Millions: $648.2 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.1 billion annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  5. Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
  6. Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
  7. Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
  8. Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
  9. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  10. Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
  11. Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
  12. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
  13. Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
  14. Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
  15. Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
  16. Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
  17. Mega Millions: $349.3 million cash, May 21, 2021 ($516 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
  18. Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
  19. Powerball: $341.7 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
  20. Mega Millions: $340 million cash, Jun. 7, 2019 ($522 million annuity) - California
  21. Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
  22. Mega Millions: $320.5 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($543 million annuity) - California
  23. Mega Millions: $319.9 million cash, Jun. 9, 2020 ($414 million annuity) - Arizona
  24. Mega Millions: $314.4 million cash, Sep. 21, 2021 ($431 million annuity) - New York
  25. Mega Millions: $292.9 million cash, Jan. 28, 2022 ($426 million annuity) - California

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

  • Powerball: 12
  • Mega Millions: 13

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Since I'm a betting man, I bet there will be at least one more increase before Friday's draw.

Bleudog101

Thanks Todd & Kate for the update.

 

Kumarran (sp) just on the news from Cane's and said he'd buy tickets again and this would be last time.  Not sure if it is believable or not.

 

Certainly it will increase in the 22 hours left before the drawing.  (Realizing many states cut-off before 2300 Eastern time comes).

Bleudog101

I Agree!

scorpio45

be nice if not so stingy and give like a thousand dollars to many players instead of to top businesses or high earning people,or one person.still haven't heard who won big pb in vermont yet.

EnReval

After $700mil, I get confused with my analysis and play nitmal numbers and quick picks fr other places

 

This is where intuition sits in

wander73's avatarwander73

I think it beats the record.   There are still over 24 hours left.

Bilionario's avatarBilionario

Quote: Originally posted by wander73 on Jul 28, 2022

I think it beats the record.   There are still over 24 hours left.

1.5 billion by tomorrow? I don't think so. Maybe if it rolls to Tuesday.

wander73's avatarwander73

a ticket hopefully will be sold.

wander73's avatarwander73

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Jul 28, 2022

Thanks Todd & Kate for the update.

 

Kumarran (sp) just on the news from Cane's and said he'd buy tickets again and this would be last time.  Not sure if it is believable or not.

 

Certainly it will increase in the 22 hours left before the drawing.  (Realizing many states cut-off before 2300 Eastern time comes).

There is a clue right there.   Does it have quotes in the story?

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

My calculator can only handle eight figures, so I use the one in my phone or computer.

$1,100,000,000 simply amazing!

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

I'd be pissed if my boss spent that much on lottery tickets.

Especially after getting only a 40 cents/hr raise.

Prob988

The Poisson probability of another rollover has fallen below 50%. 

Here are the probabilities for various numbers of winners:

0 winners: 49.48%

1 winner:  34.81%

2 winners: 12.25% 

3 winners:  2.87%

4 winners:  0.45%

Each number of winners greater than 4 has a probability of less than 0.1%, but most are still much, much, much larger than any single ticket being a winner.

redaxe's avatarredaxe

     What's a ballpark figure for jackpot in which after taxes

      (ballpark bc it's diff for everybody taxwise) sole winner would be a billionaire?   $2b,$1.8,1.7?

         The lady in SC came close probably after the 1.5, but who knows for sure....I'd say at least 2.....

Cassie8620's avatarCassie8620

Quote: Originally posted by wander73 on Jul 28, 2022

a ticket hopefully will be sold.

1 person? No, i want to see alot of good folks, all ages,  younger, under 30, Middle age late 30s to all of 50s. 

Let some senior citizen old people too past 65 to 80s. I want an ARRAY of good folks, to win this time, MORE than 1.

 

 

50 to 100 (minimum)  winners with each pay out for the 4 numbers + the MEGA BALL $$$

 

50 winner's per 1 million dollars each with all 5 numbers, (no mega ball.) I pray this happen for more to win.

 

Then, I can come here & say, Ok, my loving father isn't right, saying it's all RIGGED when only 1 win." Might play finally. 

I usually stick with winning awesomely everyYes Nod other month with my Pick 4's.  Good luck to everyone. Bye now.

EnReval

For the last 3 billion dollar jackpots, 2 of 3 were a single winner

winoneday

I would love to be a part of the Mega Millions frenzy.

Anyone organizing a lottery pool I can join?

Please!

noise-gate

* l have yet to see people standing in " long lines" waiting to purchase tickets in this neck of the woods. Given that we have signs of " play here" at just about very corner, it's quite possible that many players blew their stash on Tuesday night jackpot. Let's hope l am very wrong, cause we need them back in the game.Cool

cottoneyedjoe's avatarcottoneyedjoe

Quote: Originally posted by winoneday on Jul 28, 2022

I would love to be a part of the Mega Millions frenzy.

Anyone organizing a lottery pool I can join?

Please!

Get hired real quick Raising Cane's?

winoneday

Quote: Originally posted by cottoneyedjoe on Jul 28, 2022

Get hired real quick Raising Cane's?

I have applied for a job but my interview is not until Monday. Too late by then.

adamc224

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Jul 28, 2022

Since I'm a betting man, I bet there will be at least one more increase before Friday's draw.

I think it will roll to Tuesday. A relatively small bump from 830m-1.025b then another 75m, seems small for a Friday jackpot party. Annuitized value is 58.8% more than the cash value. still low real money sales for such a large jackpot. At 300+ million to 1 odds...

It would be awesome if it broke the Powerball record.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by cottoneyedjoe on Jul 28, 2022

Get hired real quick Raising Cane's?

Yeah, except even if one of those tickets hits, your personal take-home after taxes will be somewhere around $7,800.  Not exactly worth jumping ship from your current job for a minuscule chance at winning $7,800.

THRIFTY's avatarTHRIFTY

$2

andl's avatarandl

The odds of a winner amaze me. The record will be broken if no winners Friday. Amazing!

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by wander73 on Jul 28, 2022

There is a clue right there.   Does it have quotes in the story?

He said each employee would get $10K...another # for you to analyze!

sully16's avatarsully16

Am remembering to dedicate at least 3 lines to Birthday numbers.Party

Win$500Quick's avatarWin$500Quick

Guess how much the employees of Raising Cain won with all those tickets? LOL

 

cottoneyedjoe's avatarcottoneyedjoe

Quote: Originally posted by Win$500Quick on Jul 28, 2022

Guess how much the employees of Raising Cain won with all those tickets? LOL

 

I love that for the next few days, all our nation's field reporters will be perched inside gas stations.

Oscargrouch05$

Bruce Almighty repeat everyone wins one dollar each ROFL

JeetKuneDoLotto's avatarJeetKuneDoLotto

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 28, 2022

* l have yet to see people standing in " long lines" waiting to purchase tickets in this neck of the woods. Given that we have signs of " play here" at just about very corner, it's quite possible that many players blew their stash on Tuesday night jackpot. Let's hope l am very wrong, cause we need them back in the game.Cool

You are never wrong Noise-Gate. 

At least we can bet on that!Hurray!

JeetKuneDoLotto's avatarJeetKuneDoLotto

Quote: Originally posted by redaxe on Jul 28, 2022

     What's a ballpark figure for jackpot in which after taxes

      (ballpark bc it's diff for everybody taxwise) sole winner would be a billionaire?   $2b,$1.8,1.7?

         The lady in SC came close probably after the 1.5, but who knows for sure....I'd say at least 2.....

I think 1.4 billion, because dont they  take 40%?

They should really reduce the taxes to capital gains level, which

I think is 25%.  Or is it 15%?  I dont remember.

Actually they should make a law, that if you win with your own numbers, 

there is NO TAX.

If you win with a Quick Pick - Yes TAX.  Why?  Because you paid for a computer terminal service to pick your numbas because you a lazy bum.

However the winner is

a)  are still obligated to donate 100K, to 20 different charities, (of the winners choice).

b) invest 200K in 10 local businesses.

Just spitballing here.

PrisonerSix

Quote: Originally posted by JeetKuneDoLotto on Jul 28, 2022

I think 1.4 billion, because dont they  take 40%?

They should really reduce the taxes to capital gains level, which

I think is 25%.  Or is it 15%?  I dont remember.

Actually they should make a law, that if you win with your own numbers, 

there is NO TAX.

If you win with a Quick Pick - Yes TAX.  Why?  Because you paid for a computer terminal service to pick your numbas because you a lazy bum.

However the winner is

a)  are still obligated to donate 100K, to 20 different charities, (of the winners choice).

b) invest 200K in 10 local businesses.

Just spitballing here.

The tax stuff is at usamega.com.

PrisonerSix

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 28, 2022

* l have yet to see people standing in " long lines" waiting to purchase tickets in this neck of the woods. Given that we have signs of " play here" at just about very corner, it's quite possible that many players blew their stash on Tuesday night jackpot. Let's hope l am very wrong, cause we need them back in the game.Cool

I went to a supermarket near work to get my tickets and asked the lady behind the counter if there's been a rush and she told me there will be tomorrow. Between my wife and I, we have 5 tickets right now and she's picking up 2 more and I'm picking up 2 more tomorrow.

I wonder how high it will go if it rolls again.

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Quote: Originally posted by cottoneyedjoe on Jul 28, 2022

I love that for the next few days, all our nation's field reporters will be perched inside gas stations.

I'm glad I'm not working today, tomorrow, or Saturday. I sold a crap load of tix Wednesday.

Annnnd, Sunday, I'm gonna start working in the bakery for about a month. 

wander73's avatarwander73

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 28, 2022

Yeah, except even if one of those tickets hits, your personal take-home after taxes will be somewhere around $7,800.  Not exactly worth jumping ship from your current job for a minuscule chance at winning $7,800.

Here is the problem and I recall I seen a story about I think or I forget what it was.  Well my dad, before he died, I told him the story.   My dad passed in 2016.  Someone had taken the annuity and I asked him about that.  My dad said it's no one's business what the person does.  it's up to that person , reasons that the lottery ha 2 options. 

 

Everyone is different.  I sure do hope a member from this site does hit at least 5 numbers.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 28, 2022

Yeah, except even if one of those tickets hits, your personal take-home after taxes will be somewhere around $7,800.  Not exactly worth jumping ship from your current job for a minuscule chance at winning $7,800.

Why does America still tax lottery winners?. People act as if it is normal, it's not. Look around the world and you see what I mean. Whenever they post a big jackpot and people are jumping up and down, I just look at it as half of what is posted. The kicker is that when I win, Uncle Sam gets paid before l even see a dime. Ask yourselves, does Uncle Sam really NEED the proceeds from the little guys lottery adventures?. Oh by the way, I'm going to win almost half this jackpot.

Super-man's avatarSuper-man

I always check the estimated net payout and looking past the advertised jackpot (which the latter is obviously pulling more people into buying tickets). After all, the bigger amount looks way better when advertised (until you read the short print, if there's any... LOL). I used to live in Philly and is now in the Philippines... but I'd still buy MM and PB (through The Lotter) when the jackpot gets big.

All the best! Party

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Jul 29, 2022

Why does America still tax lottery winners?. People act as if it is normal, it's not. Look around the world and you see what I mean. Whenever they post a big jackpot and people are jumping up and down, I just look at it as half of what is posted. The kicker is that when I win, Uncle Sam gets paid before l even see a dime. Ask yourselves, does Uncle Sam really NEED the proceeds from the little guys lottery adventures?. Oh by the way, I'm going to win almost half this jackpot.

It is taxed because in America lottery wins are considered income.  When you receive money here, it generally falls into three types of buckets: income, investment income, or gifts.  They are all taxed to some degree, although with gifts you avoid taxes on the first $15,000 given to you in a year by someone.

But this doesn't mean Americans are necessarily taxed more than people in other countries.  For example, in other countries there are much higher income tax rates, VAT taxes, higher fuel taxes, etc.   And because state taxes vary so much, you can live in whichever state you feel balances your taxes best.

winterhug

Quote: Originally posted by scorpio45 on Jul 28, 2022

be nice if not so stingy and give like a thousand dollars to many players instead of to top businesses or high earning people,or one person.still haven't heard who won big pb in vermont yet.

Dude, what are you talking about? You act like the winning lottery numbers decide that THEY want to be won buy top businesses and high earning people. Tuesday's jackpot that was 830M, the second prize of 1 million was won by on 9 different tickets. 2 in New York, 2 in New Jersey, 2 in Ohio, 1 in California, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Illinois. A few of these tickets got an extra million because of the added multiplier. The winning numbers were: 7-29-60-63-66-15. These 9 tickets were quick picks which got the first 5 numbers and missed the mega ball of 15. 

Your statement does not sound well thought out because top earning people rarely play the lottery because THEY are already rich. Studies have already shown, the lottery is being played by the majority of people who make less than 20K a year. Can you really see, Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey or any of the top one percent buy a lottery ticket? 

winterhug

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 28, 2022

* l have yet to see people standing in " long lines" waiting to purchase tickets in this neck of the woods. Given that we have signs of " play here" at just about very corner, it's quite possible that many players blew their stash on Tuesday night jackpot. Let's hope l am very wrong, cause we need them back in the game.Cool

Yeah, I also think a lot of people did blow most of their stash on the Tuesday night's drawing. When the jackpot gets this big, people should definitely spread out their ticket buying out in case the jackpot continues to grow.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 29, 2022

It is taxed because in America lottery wins are considered income.  When you receive money here, it generally falls into three types of buckets: income, investment income, or gifts.  They are all taxed to some degree, although with gifts you avoid taxes on the first $15,000 given to you in a year by someone.

But this doesn't mean Americans are necessarily taxed more than people in other countries.  For example, in other countries there are much higher income tax rates, VAT taxes, higher fuel taxes, etc.   And because state taxes vary so much, you can live in whichever state you feel balances your taxes best.

Correct and hope our German LP friend can confirm what I'm going to say:

When we were stationed in Deutschland Soldiers would get an exemption on VAT for purchases on the economy.   It wasn't automatic, you had to go to an office near the PX and fill out the paperwork.  That being said Soldiers would purchases Mercedes that I know of and could make an appt when it was being made since the specs are different than German ones.  Got me wondering 30 years later if they got VAT exemption on those cars?   IDK, never thought to ask.

Back here @ work had suggested we go from Oxygen cylinders with regulators (a PAIN) to liquid Oxygen cylinders.  So instead they went with Grab and Go Oxygen cylinders for all 7 hospitals.   My suggestion won me $300 PRE-TAX.   Well the IRS considers that a bonus and taxed it almost 49%!  So it was around $160.   Same with our top out bonus since there were no salary increases for folks who had been there for donkey's years and same tax rate.

winterhug

No your father is not right, Mega Millions or Poweball is NOT rigged. If the Mega Millions were rigged 9 tickets would not have won the 2nd prize of 1 million dollars Tuesday night: 2 in New York, 2 in New Jersey, 2 in Ohio, 1 in California, 1 in Florida and 1 in Illinois. Also whoever runs the lottery would have never let the jackpot get this big and "rigged" it so 1 to 3 players at least would have won the jackpot by now. Numbers are numbers, the winning numbers for Tuesday were 7-29-60-63-66-15. This number is a random quick pick number

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by winterhug on Jul 29, 2022

Dude, what are you talking about? You act like the winning lottery numbers decide that THEY want to be won buy top businesses and high earning people. Tuesday's jackpot that was 830M, the second prize of 1 million was won by on 9 different tickets. 2 in New York, 2 in New Jersey, 2 in Ohio, 1 in California, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Illinois. A few of these tickets got an extra million because of the added multiplier. The winning numbers were: 7-29-60-63-66-15. These 9 tickets were quick picks which got the first 5 numbers and missed the mega ball of 15. 

Your statement does not sound well thought out because top earning people rarely play the lottery because THEY are already rich. Studies have already shown, the lottery is being played by the majority of people who make less than 20K a year. Can you really see, Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey or any of the top one percent buy a lottery ticket? 

I really doubt that most players make less than 20k a year. I know many players who make way more than 20 k, myself included. But I simply rarely have time to play. I enjoy the number theory aspect.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Jul 29, 2022

I really doubt that most players make less than 20k a year. I know many players who make way more than 20 k, myself included. But I simply rarely have time to play. I enjoy the number theory aspect.

Absolutely correct.  The lottery is played by people across the financial spectrum.  The lottery is entertainment, not a financial investment, and it is entertainment enjoyed by every type of person.

Read about the facts. We published this in 2016.

New survey destroys myth that poor Americans buy most lottery tickets

MzDuffleBaglady's avatarMzDuffleBaglady

I have 3 lines for the Mega Millions!Hyper

 

Good Luck everyone!Hyper

ieatdirt

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 29, 2022

It is taxed because in America lottery wins are considered income.  When you receive money here, it generally falls into three types of buckets: income, investment income, or gifts.  They are all taxed to some degree, although with gifts you avoid taxes on the first $15,000 given to you in a year by someone.

But this doesn't mean Americans are necessarily taxed more than people in other countries.  For example, in other countries there are much higher income tax rates, VAT taxes, higher fuel taxes, etc.   And because state taxes vary so much, you can live in whichever state you feel balances your taxes best.

Not to be a corrector but for 2022 the gift tax limit was raised to $16,000 per person per year

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Best of luck to all of us. And a special advanced thank you from that 1 lucky jackpot winner from central TN. 

Thumbs Up

wander73's avatarwander73

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 29, 2022

It is taxed because in America lottery wins are considered income.  When you receive money here, it generally falls into three types of buckets: income, investment income, or gifts.  They are all taxed to some degree, although with gifts you avoid taxes on the first $15,000 given to you in a year by someone.

But this doesn't mean Americans are necessarily taxed more than people in other countries.  For example, in other countries there are much higher income tax rates, VAT taxes, higher fuel taxes, etc.   And because state taxes vary so much, you can live in whichever state you feel balances your taxes best.

If someone were to file for bankruptcy,  I don't think they can claim as gambling loss.   I recall going to a lawyer for bankruptcy years ago.    Might have changed in 12-14 yrs.

Bleudog101

Come on Mega Millions consortium...chomping on the bit for an increase in the jackpot!

 

Greedy?   IDK, I just like for Todd & Kate to have to update the standings list...but that might not happen even with an increase!  (Just kidding Todd & Kate).

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Jul 29, 2022

Best of luck to all of us. And a special advanced thank you from that 1 lucky jackpot winner from central TN. 

Thumbs Up

Whozaat???

You???

Dream on. Texas hasn't had a big winner for a while. MY turn!!!  Yes Nod

Bleudog101

Perfect timing....$1.28 Billion now.

alexnt55

Cash Value up to 747 million also. Ticket sales must be soaring

Six balls

Wonder if it could bump up again to $1.36b? According to my back of the envelope math, that'd have a lump sum large enough to allow for a full $500m after taxes. Being a half billionaire sounds fun!

MsBee18

I went to Speedway bought my tickets. 5 lines, 4 different mega balls one repeat. I noticed at the bottom of my ticket the jackpot increased to 1.28 Billion. A few people in the store buying their tickets too. Thumbs Up

ieatdirt

"Thank you, maybe now I can afford to feed my family" - Latrell Sprewell LOL

Poo Nanny's avatarPoo Nanny

I think someone is going to win it tonight. It has increased roughly 300 million in two days. I have a feeling probably 90% of the number combinations will be played. However, I would love to see it roll one more time because who doesn't want to play for the largest jackpot ever!! I'm guessing if it rolls it will get over 2 billion

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