Now tied for seventh-largest lottery jackpot in history
By Todd Northrop
For the second time in less than two weeks a lottery jackpot has crossed into billion-dollar territory.
Last night nobody won the Mega Millions multi-state lottery drawing, triggering another jackpot rollover that created a Tuesday jackpot estimated at $1.05 billion with a cash value of $527.9 million.
Based on past multi-state lottery jackpots, that estimate may get a lot bigger by the time the drawing kicks off Tuesday night, as people dreaming of becoming the next billionaire cause lottery ticket sales go through the roof.
To get to this massive size, the jackpot has been growing since it started on April 21 as a $20 million prize — now 29 consecutive drawings without a winner.
Tuesday's billion-dollar Mega Millions jackpot is tied for the 4th-largest in the game's history, and the 7th-largest lottery jackpot in world history among all lottery games.
The largest lottery jackpot ever awarded was on Nov. 7, 2022, when one ticket sold in California won a $2 billion grand prize. The incredibly lucky winner was Edwin Castro, who claimed the prize in February of 2023, providing minimal public information about himself. What little is known about Castro comes from public filings, and includes the purchase of a house or two, as well as being the subject of dubious lawsuits that are unfortunately predictable these days.
Tuesday's lump-sum cash value of $527.9 million is the 9th-largest on the all-time lottery jackpot cash value rankings (see full list below).
Lottery players dreaming 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 Mega Millions Jackpot Analysis page.
The rush of ticket sales over the next few days likely will propel the jackpot to an even higher amount before the drawing takes place Tuesday. Lottery Post and USA Mega will update the jackpot tallies displayed if such an increase occurs.
The quickest way to find the winning numbers after the drawing Tuesday will be by visiting USA Mega (www.usamega.com) at 11:00 pm Eastern Time (8:00 pm Pacific), when the winning numbers will be published minutes after they are drawn.
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 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.
In Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arizona, 1 from California, 1 from New York, and 2 from Pennsylvania.
Only one of the second-prize tickets sold in Pennsylvania was purchased with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play, multiplying that player's prize to a whopping $5 million, since the Megaplier number drawn was 5. Unlike the Powerball game, Mega Millions applies its multiplier to the second prize.
The only state not offering the Megaplier option is 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 within California and the number of tickets that won at each prize level in the state.
The California second-prize winner benefited from the pari-mutuel prize payouts this time, bagging a $1,502,965 prize for the win.
A total of 92 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 14 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $50,000, and 13 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $8,951.
A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers as well as the official drawing video can be found on the Mega Millions Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Mega Millions Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, July 28, 2023, were 5, 10, 28, 52, and 63, with Mega Ball number 18. The Megaplier number was 5.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $110 million from its previous amount of $940 million. The cash value was raised by $55.4 million from its previous amount of $472.5 million.
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. Tickets cost $2 each.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 7th-largest lottery jackpot of all time, and the 4th-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. Brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- 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: $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maine
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Powerball: $1.0798 billion, Jul. 19, 2023 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Aug. 1, 2023 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023 (33 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Washington
- 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
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 9th-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: $723.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.348 billion annuity) - Maine
- Powerball: $558.1 million cash, Jul. 19, 2023 ($1.0798 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Mega Millions: $527.9 million cash, Aug. 1, 2023 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $407.2 million cash, Feb. 6, 2023 ($754.6 million annuity) - Washington
- 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
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
You can buy MM and PP online in Pennsylvania.
Well, I had nothing but it was fun
the 18 got me
Even though millions of people thinks it's rigged and it could be true but they still play for dreams come true. You have to be in it to win it. I'm sure the ones who hit the huge $100 million to a billion thought the same thing as well. I wonder how their views are now. 🤣🤣 It's all chance and you have to be in the right place at the right time. Lottery officials can't control people manual pick tickets in the hundreds of millions around the country. I'm just saying 🤷🏾♂️
I didn't play last night. This is going to be interesting. already have a couple of numbers to try
Over 300 million after taxes. Yes please.
we have to build it up for california.
Meh, maybe buy a ticket after the next roll
One QP and one of my own numbas and a prayer.
Asked the mrs to grab 3 MM QPs for me when she goes to the store this morning. Soooo, she held her hand out and said "you know the drill". I pulled out a $10, knowing theres a service charge and delivery fee....Can't even get back anything these days.
We do too in Kentucky and don't understand why it is not listed below. Asked three times for an update.
Anyway, a truck went by walking the dog...triple 7's, then shortly after a car parked in its driveway triple 8's...is that a hint or what?
I don't care who wins as long as it's not California. Maybe New York, New Jersey, or Florida could win a jackpot for once lol.
Yeah it's going up for California. As we all already know that is where they gonna give it. Or Tennessee
I WILL BE THE WINNER OF New York
Bought 5 lines and matched one number and no MegaBall. Am I playing again? You bet!
I'm in it and now to win it!
Bring it on!
I concur with the 2nd option.
I was armed with 15 lines - phew.
I got one number on four different lines and two numbers on one line. 10 lines had zero match. Did not match the mega ball on any.
No trip to the gas station to collect small winnings 🤣.
But guess what? Will be in for the Tuesday drawing.
Will do 10 lines with multiplier for $30.
After this crazy run I will go back to my $3 ticket for every drawing.
I totally agree with you on this one.
That has always been my question too - how do you control the manual picks - all the birthday numbers and special numbers that people pick.
They would have to run all the numbers before the draw and then pick a set of number that does not guarantee a jackpot win.
Yes we have super fast computers, but, I don't think they would go that far, but again what do I know.
Still that gives me some comfort.
I think winning the lottery, whatever game you play, is purely luck.
And as you have said it, you have to be in it to win it.
one could buy MM and PB online in IL, but I think the system should send buyer a confirmation email to validate the purchase or else their web admin could log on and mess around with your account.
I thought someone is going to win the jackpot with those nicely distributed numbers (right down QP algo's alley).
for marketing purpose, MM people should raise the jackpot to $1.081 to make it the sixth largest jackpot ever.
"Lottery officials can't control people manual pick tickets in the hundreds of millions around the country"...
TRUTH!!!!!!!!!
You just jinxed yourself.
jj
You just locked it in for California.
Ih the way prople are going to complain about CA winninjg the PB advertised over $1 billion amd MM adveertised over $1 billion.
I predict Tuesdays mega millions jackpot will fall somewhere between $1,049,999,999 and $1,050,000,001.
I could be completely off base on this but, my gut tells me so.
They don't send confirmation? In Mich you get a confirmation email with a transaction ID number for online purchases.
I live in New York and use Jackpocket.
I have it set on Auto Play and never forget to buy a ticket. I get one MM and one PB (with multiplier.)
It sends me an email with the numbers as well as a scan of the tickets.
Any winnings are credited to my account for future purchases or I can cash out if I choose.
Tell her if there's a service and delivery fee, then there's no sharing the jackpot.
Let's see how THAT flies....
Exactly. I agree 💯 I've been playing for years with several different groups that went on to retire from my employer and on my own. We all just wanted one thing. The feeling from Willy Wonka " You did it Charlie!! You did it!! Did what!!" You won the big one" I know my time coming I invested so much into lottery fund I need to get it back with interest 🤣🤣
In KY you can opt-in to receive an email for your purchase (s). If not you simply go to My transactions and there it is.
KY lottery in one of my many FB messages said if you play on-line and hit the big one they will NOT cut separate checks like they will for in store purchases. Well if I hit the big one playing on line, I'll cross that bridge on payouts but I know the tax burden falls on me...and I don't like that!
that's nice! (a complete transaction). IL is run by soup nazi's. I had to screen shot all my tickets.
Hi Meatman! does Jackpocket organize some pool? what're their basic rules?
Jackpocket does pools, but NYS Lottery does not permit them to do it in NYS.
If my family and I win Tuesday night I solemnly promise not to spill the beans on lottery post.
P.U.
Who cut the cheese?
the dog. always blame it on the dog.
Blame the dog......
A young man was delighted to finally be asked home to meet the parents.
He was quite nervous about the meeting, though, and by the time he arrived punctually at the doorstep he was in a state of gastric distress.
The problem developed into one of acute flatulence. The young man realized that he couldn't hold it in one second longer without exploding.
A tiny fart escaped.
'Spot,' called out the young woman's mother to the family dog lying at the young man's feet.
Relieved at the dog getting the blame, the young man let another slightly larger one go.
'Spot,' she cried out sharply.
I've got it made, thought the fellow to himself. One more and I'll be fine. So he let loose a really big one.
'Spot,' shrieked the mother, 'get over here before he sh*ts on you.'
LOL.
That's a good one!
hats off sir.
Cat gas is 1,050,000,000 times worse than dog gas. Picture limburger cheese with liverwurst sandwich sitting on the counter for three days.
I had the same results with 5 lines. Did you do all quickpicks?
I did a mix of quickpicks and my own sets of numbers.
Planning to do at least 3 lines for Tuesday. At least one will be a quickpick and the others not so sure yet.
I did QP on five lines. In those five line I only got one number.
The other ten I did RNG which in a way are basically QP but not using the lottery vending machine 🤷🏾♂️
I did a terminal quickpick, RNG, and some of my own numbers. The QP is the only line that matched anything. Will probably so something similar for Tuesday.
Dear God!
I've been a good person all my life. Please let me win the jackpot on Tuesday.
God: "Angel, give me the file on Mr. JD"
God: "I see you've been a good man all your life". I would put your name down to win the jackpot...
God: "... but wait, the footnotes say about "running the red lights at 3:00 o'clock in the morning, and with no pants on."
Sir, you'd need to be in Florida in summer to understand. .:)
I dunno if anybody posting in this thread is located in a state where the state lottery allows players to do this, but for what it's worth.... (I do know that New York and Florida allow it for PowerBall, but I've never done it for MegaMillions. If they do it for PB I cant see any reason why they would not allow it for MM)
Some states allow players to do a "partial-QP". There's a slight trick to it though, and that's that you must mark the QP box on your play/betslip too in addition to picking some of your own numbers.
For instance if you picked 3 of the 5 "white ball" numbers, the terminal will pick the other two provided you marked the QP box too. If you don't mark the QP box, the terminal will reject the playslip.
If you pick 1 number the terminal will pick the other 4. If you pick 2 numbers, the terminal will pick the other 3 etc. I've had a few sharp eyed clerks hand me back my playslip before they ran it through the terminal and tell me "You didn't pick enough numbers". When I tell them it will work because it's a partial-QP, they run it through the terminal, and when the terminal prints the ticket they say "I never knew you could do that!" So you cant count on a clerk to know anything about it.
In Florida, if I picked 3 numbers, instead of printing 'QP' at the end of the line of five numbers, the terminal will print 'Q2' . G5
Not all state lottery's program their terminals the same way and some states do not provide for partial-QP's.
A good indication that the state you reside in does program their terminal to do partial-QP's is there might be verbiage on the back of the playslip that alludes to it. In Florida the following is printed on the back of the betslip - "Mark the QUICK PICK box and the computer will pick any or all of your numbers." My suggestion is to go ahead and try it even if there's nothing about it on the back of the playslip. G5
Just played on-line MM in KY.
They now have an option for QP with Megaplier two tickets so did that. When the #'s appeared it let me change some or probably all of them and only changed top line one of the first five #'s and second line I changed the Gold Mega ball to 18 so it does let you do that.
If this hadn't been addressed would never have tried it! Thanks for the tidbit.
I did not know that. I'll have to check my playslips to see if that is possible. I did a partial QP on a couple of my draws meaning I picked a few numbers myself and used a RNG to pick the rest of the line.
My wife picked some numbers and I'm doing QPs and some of my own numbers. I'm not giving up. Can't win if I'm not in.
Hilarious
Got my 5 sets of QP's and my 5 regular set of numbers both with PB multiplier. Best of luck to you all for this Tuesday drawing!
I think the jackpot winning ticket will be sold in Georgia this time around.
I'm winning the billion in North Carolina but good luck to everyone anyway😀
😆😆😆😆😆😆
Come on MICHIGAN it's time!🤪🤪🤪🤪
I'd like a jackpot ticket to be sold in Louisiana...to me!
Sometimes I have small talk with friends and colleagues on the lottery - most of them are like "You know what, playing the lottery is a waste of money and I wouldn't spend a dime on the lottery"
Deep down I always wonder to myself - "What if I get lucky and win big, would they feel entitled to a share? Would suddenly playing the lottery be a good thing and not a waste of money?"
Neat trick getting th PB multiplier on MM tickets.........
I got lucky in the casinos at one time , had a $4000 royal flush at the Tropicana after I played the fortune doom and a year later my deceased cousin who was a firefighter played slot machines , at 20,000 and 500 on my sister's birthday the same day I had to flush so the machines it depends
They will be the first with their hands out.
let's face it, they are better with money than you.
You could be right - you just never know 😁
Am pretty sure they will be - good thing is they will never know.
It's like the preacher whose sermon is all about gambling ain't right. But when a congregant wins, they can give 10% tithe and the good Lord will take it 🤣🤣