Dodges popular birthday numbers to become fourth-largest lottery jackpot in history
By Todd Northrop
After 25 drawings without a jackpot winner, the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game now boasts a cresting jackpot of $1.35 billion that could instantly put someone among the wealthiest people on the planet.
To get to this point, the game had to survive a drawing in which all "birthday numbers" were drawn. Birthday numbers are those less than 31, and lotteries typically sell an outsized portion of lottery tickets within that range of numbers since many people typically play birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant dates when filling out their playslips.
When nobody won Tuesday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $1.35 billion. Only one other drawing in Mega Millions game history was larger — a $1.537 billion jackpot in Oct. 2018 that was claimed anonymously by one person in South Carolina.
Readers who follow the link to that jackpot claim may notice an infamous name mentioned, as disgraced "lottery lawyer" Jason Kurland was the attorney chosen by the anonymous winner to handle the prize claim and subsequent investment of the winner's money. Lottery Post published an in-depth video chronicling Kurland's misdeeds and how he stole millions of dollars from the big winner.
Deepening the lore of that particular drawing was the fact that the South Carolina store owner who sold the $1.5 billion Mega Millions ticket was later arrested for tax evasion.
Let's hope this billion-dollar jackpot run is less notorious.
The next chance someone will get to win that enormous pile of cash is Friday night at 11:00 pm Eastern Time (8:00 pm Pacific).
Friday's $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot is the 4th-largest lottery jackpot of any game in world history, and the $707.9 million lump-sum cash value stands as the 6th-largest ever (see full list below).
The current jackpot run-up started on Oct. 18 as a $20 million grand prize — it has been nearly 3 months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.
Lottery players wondering what all the cash will look like in their bank account after federal and state taxes are taken out can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
The rush of ticket sales over the next few days may propel the jackpot to an even higher amount before the drawing takes place Friday. Lottery Post and USA Mega will update the jackpot tallies displayed if such an increase occurs.
In Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 16 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from California, 1 from Connecticut, 2 from Florida, 1 from Kansas, 2 from Massachusetts, 1 from Missouri, 1 from New Jersey, 2 from New York, 2 from Ohio, 1 from Oregon, 1 from Pennsylvania, and 1 from West Virginia.
Three of the second-prize winners — one each from Connecticut, Florida, and New York — purchased their tickets with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play, multiplying their prize to $3 million because the Megaplier number drawn was 3.
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 lottery 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.
But that sole California second-prize winner is probably not too concerned that they couldn't purchase the Megaplier, as the state's pari-mutuel prize structure will deliver them a massive $3,970,609 prize. As always, the complete list of California prizes can be found on USA Mega's Mega Millions drawing detail page.
Tuesday's birthday numbers helped a total of 215 tickets match four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 41 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $30,000, and 29 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $7,127.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, January 10, 2023, were 7, 13, 14, 15, and 18, with Mega Ball number 9. The Megaplier number was 3.
The complete payout information and official drawing video for Tuesday's drawing can be found at USA Mega's Mega Millions Drawing Detail page.
Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $250 million from its previous amount of $1.1 billion. The cash value was raised by $131.1 million from its previous amount of $576.8 million.
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.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Tuesdays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time.
Players looking for the nearest official lottery retailer — or maybe just a different store without such a long line — are urged to use the free Lottery Places app available for iOS, Android, and Windows. The app can find lottery stores in every Mega Millions state and can search across state lines — something even official state lotteries can't do.
Some states offer direct online sales, allowing players to bypass the store and purchase tickets from home. States that offer this ability include Colorado (Mega Millions and Powerball), Michigan (Mega Millions and Powerball), Minnesota (Mega Millions and Powerball), Oregon (Mega Millions and Powerball), Texas (Mega Millions and Powerball), and Virginia (Mega Millions and Powerball). Note that some of these links will only work properly for residents of the states mentioned.
Players outside the USA can use a reputable butler service, which provides scanned copies of the purchased lottery tickets securely held on behalf of the customer. In the past, the lottery ticket service was used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.
Mega Millions lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 4th-largest lottery jackpot of all time, and the 2nd-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. Brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Friday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $1.35 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 (22 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 (34 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $522 million, Jun. 7, 2019 (24 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $516 million, May 21, 2021 (26 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $502 million, Oct. 14, 2022 (21 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Florida
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 12
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.
- Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $707.9 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.35 billion annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- 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: $349.3 million cash, May 21, 2021 ($516 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $341.7 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $340 million cash, Jun. 7, 2019 ($522 million annuity) - California
- 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
- Mega Millions: $319.9 million cash, Jun. 9, 2020 ($414 million annuity) - Arizona
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 12
Am shocked it wasn't hit bcuz of low numbers
these bil$ jkpots are becoming so frequent
they see people are spending then why not place amnt back at $40mil
It was the 3 middle numbers that threw everyone off. 13-14-15, most people never play numbers in sequential order like that. So whenever they are matched in order it's usually because of a random ouick-pick.
So basically people won't play unless it hits 2 billion minimum now lol.
Indeed, 7-13-14-15-18-09 was some random quick pick because 16 people got the exact same quick pick for one million dollars each. It is wild how the numbers are so low. The entire sequence only adds up to 76. This definitely does look like birthday numbers. As the article states 215 people won 10K each as 4 of the 5 numbers and mega ball matched. This shows how many people continually play birthday numbers. This billion dollar jackpot is the best time to share a jackpot with 215 people if they had won. Also it is the main reason not to play birthday numbers.
They do seem obsessed with the huge jackpots. Who in their right mind would want 1.3 billion dollars. What could you possibly do with it. Please, don't say invest it and let it grow. For what exactly. Nothing but headaches and problems.
Aaaaaaand that's how you know it's rigged!
I need my hip boots on reading your last sentence.
You do know, I hope, that it is drawn through Mechanical balls and not the dreaded RNG, right?
They put lead in selected ballz lol. They want the jackpot to hit 3 billion.
The "rigged" comments this morning are so ludicrous it makes me laugh. So in order to be sure the jackpot rolled, the lottery rigged the drawing to make birthday numbers come out??
Of course.......I see your point with RNG. But in my opinion, unless I pick the numbers myself, I consider anything else to be "random".
The upcoming drawing is on Friday the 13th.
BB, honestly, we all know it isn't really $1.3 Billion(should you chose the annuity) due to what you get removed for taxes(24%) before a check is cut.. When was that last time a winner took the annuity ?? 2015(I believe, on the PB)....
So $707 Million and change, minus 37% Fed tax is probably the real figure or roughly $446 Million & change take home.
Perhaps the winner is a fair minded person who wants to set up friends and family and charities....Keep $50M(or less) and give the rest away.That should leave someone all they want for the rest of their life. The good news is that the winner can do great things with that kind of finances to help others.
There will be initial growing pains with distributing that kind of wealth but it won't last and you can always have someone on retainer to say"no/denied" for you.
best of luck to those that dare to play this weekend 😸
I believe it is Suze Orman, a TV/Author personality who said she has someone to field her calls to say Yay or Nay and doesn't have to deal with the riff raff!