Sixth-largest lottery jackpot in history
By Todd Northrop
After 30 drawings without a jackpot winner, the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game now boasts a cresting jackpot of $1.25 billion that could instantly put someone among the wealthiest people on the planet.
When nobody won Tuesday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $1.25 billion. As huge of a number as that is, the game will undoubtedly require at least one more rollover before it exceeds the largest drawing in Mega Millions game history — 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 $1.25 billion Mega Millions jackpot is the 6th-largest lottery jackpot of any game in world history, and the $625.3 million lump-sum cash value stands as the 7th-largest ever (see full list below).
The current jackpot run-up started on Apr. 21 as a $20 million grand prize — it has been over 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 7 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 2 from California, 1 from Massachusetts, 1 from North Carolina, 1 from New York, 1 from Texas, and 1 from Wisconsin.
Only one of the second-prize winners — in Texas — purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play, multiplying their prize to $4 million because the Megaplier number drawn was 4. Unlike the Powerball game, Mega Millions applies its multiplier to the second prize.
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.
The two California second-prize winners will each take home a $650,579 prize. As always, the complete list of California prizes can be found on USA Mega's Mega Millions drawing detail page.
A total of 135 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 28 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $40,000, and 25 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $7,210.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, August 1, 2023, were 8, 24, 30, 45, and 61, with Mega Ball number 12. The Megaplier number was 4.
The complete payout information and official drawing video for Tuesday's drawing can be found at USA Mega's Mega Millions Drawing Detail page, as well as on the Mega Millions Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $150 million from its previous amount of $1.1 billion. The cash value was raised by $77.7 million from its previous amount of $472.5 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 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 6th-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.
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: $1.348 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
- Mega Millions: $1.25 billion, Aug. 4, 2023 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $1.0798 billion, Jul. 19, 2023 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- 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 7th-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
- Mega Millions: $625.3 million cash, Aug. 4, 2023 ($1.25 billion annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- 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
Net worth wise, this jp win would not even place one on the Forbes 2000. Probably not even the Forbes 5000.
But I will not turn it down.
I won $16 with a Megaplier. It will go for my next round of tickets.
l believe it will increase to $1,365,000,000 by Friday . So it will become the fourth Largest Jackpot in History or the Second largest Mega Millions in History . Good Luck to all Players on Lottery Post
Todd, you may want to correct a tiny error in the above story. About the 7th or 8th paragraph you state "Friday's $1.35 Billion Mega Millions,..." shouldn't it read $1.25?
It will probably get that high by Friday, or higher.
Even half woukd be ok.
I predict 1.33-1.38.
Oh kind and loving almighty God, I pray with you to win me this $1.25 BILLION Mega Millions jackpot !!!
This just means I have to give more away after winning on Friday.
This may take some time
Yup, thanks for pointing out the typo, it's been fixed.
A man prayed to God every day for 65 years. He prayed in the morning, at lunchtime, in the evening and just before he went to sleep.
The man passed away and went to heaven. The man was rather upset with the Lord and sought him out.
When the man found the Lord, he said "I've been praying 65 years. Every day when I woke up, ate my lunch, had my dinner in the evening and just before I went to sleep. How come I never won??"
And the Lord said, "IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF YOU BOUGHT A TICKET!"
not to toot my own horn but i am on the forbes 5000000000 list.
* Just as the sun rises in the East & sets in the West, this Mega millions jackpot will come to rest in the West. What part of the West is up to debate. My Palantir says so, not me.
* Don't shoot the messenger, that's all I am saying.
I got lucky. I found a pool buying tickets for the Friday Mega Millions draw that let me join.
Now I am really looking forward to the draw.
We never have jackpots this large in Canada. On the other hand, even though our jackpots are smaller, we get to keep all the money - no taxes on lottery wins.
We have the Pacific West and the Mountain West.
I am going to tilt the Palantir just a little and let it point to the Mountain West.
There is a straight line down from Montana to New Mexico. Colorado is a little out of line and kinda pushing Kansas out of the way, so because of such bullyish behavior I will eliminate Colorado.
The people in Montana can always cross over to Canada and play lotto 6/49 there 🤣🤣. The people in New Mexico can try their luck in Mexico maybe.
So that leaves us with Wyoming.
Mmh that money will sure buy lots of cows.
How about Wyoming takes it this time 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I landed $8 with a QP and the Megaplier on it.
I will get two or three tickets for the Friday draw with Megaplier on them.
That Megaplier really upped the Texas win to $4M - it sure did make the effort worthwhile.
Will do a QP and some random numbers.
I won $16 so I bought 5 lines with the MegaPlier. I picked the numbers using 5 different methods so hopefully one set will win something.
I wonder who is going to win the "CALIFORNIA" or big state mega millions this time ??????
Sorry small states but continue to donate to their wealth..............Ok small states you have a chance 
Guess which states won 2 second place million dollar (+) prizes for Tuesdays drawing? CALIFORNIA and TEXAS. So if you live in a small state don't spend too much money on this jackpot, the odds are worse for you than the 1 in 302 million they advertise.
Correction: Texas only won 1 but it was part of the megaplier.
* Someone just shot me after passing along a harmless message. If the Palantir points to the West, who am l to interfere? Anyways - tilting the unit doesn't always work- the seeing stones have a great sense of direction, if it's Mt West- then so be it.
"If you live in a small state don't spend too much money on this jackpot, the odds are worse for you than the 1 in 302 million they advertise."
The odds are the same wherever you buy your ticket. It's just that bigger states have more ticket buying people and that means more chances to win.
Don't give up! There's always a chance!
Someone in Maine won the 1.3B jackpot.
A state of 1.3M folks as per the last census.
On the lottery dinner table - there is room for all 👍
Me too, did exactly the same thing, and have an extra buck in my pocket.
Tilting the Palantir just a tiny bit works - anything more and the Palantir rolls away 🤣🤣
Mountain West it shall thus be.
Friday 28, July 2023: 2nd place MM winners - Populations: Arizona 7.3M California 39M New York 19.6M and Pennsylvania, (2 winners) 12.9M
Tues 1 Aug 2023: 2nd place winners: California 39M: Massachusetts 6.9M: New York 19.6M:, North Carolina 10.7M: Texas 30M: and Wisconsin 5.9M
The other half of the states (of which i live) have less than 5M population and thats who i am talking to mainly. Outside of a few outliers our chances are ultra slim.
Anecdotal story: A few years ago i bought a QP ticket in one town number 13 14 15 36 49 (10) and a hour and a half later I bought another ticket in the next town the numbers were 13 14 15 29 50 (3). If this is my story i wonder how many people are getting the same number sequences. If this is the case i believe the odds are higher than advertised. ALSO: When i lived in VA i was in line a guy bought a ticket in front of me i peeked at his number and i bought a ticket right after, we had 3 numbers the same. The machines are not giving truly random numbers.
Outlier.
* Any numbers can win, but IMO the States pouring in the lion's share of any jackpot should & must get the first round picks. l know l know it's not a popular saying, but it is what it is. I guess l just opened myself up to another slug to the chest.