Chance to win $460 million tonight and $650 million tomorrow
By Todd Northrop
Lottery players have two massive multi-state jackpots to try to win this week, adding up to a whopping $1.11 billion in total.
According to leading multi-state lottery website USA Mega, the Mega Millions jackpot sits at an estimated $650 million with a cash value of $308.6 million, while tonight's Powerball drawing offers a $460 million estimated jackpot with a cash option of $220.4 million.
Powerball is currently ranked as the 34th-largest US lottery jackpot of all time, while Mega Millions is the 18th-largest. (See the complete top 25 annuity and cash jackpots below.)
Lottery players dreaming of what the cash would look like in their bank account can get quite an accurate picture by visiting USA Mega's Powerball Jackpot Analysis and Mega Millions Jackpot Analysis pages. They present the after-tax cash and annuity prize amounts reported state-by-state, showing both the initial withholdings by the lottery as well as the final taxes due — and even lets you specify your IRS filing status.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
The rising Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are growing similarly to how the two multi-state jackpots simultaneously climbed during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, again in 2021, and then again last July. The current duo of massive jackpots is the first time players have seen prizes of this magnitude since a $1.76 billion Powerball jackpot was won in Oct. 2023 by a lone ticket sold in California. That jackpot still has not been claimed, and the winner has just over a month left to claim it.
The winning numbers for the Powerball drawing on Sat., Mar. 2, 2024 were 3, 18, 27, 36, and 53, with Powerball number 12. The Power Play multiplier was 2. Four lucky tickets sold in California (2), Georgia, and Michigan matched all five numbers for a $1 million prize, missing the entire jackpot by just the Powerball number. (The California winners will each claim prizes of $484,265 due to the state's pari-mutuel payout structure.)
The Mega Millions drawing on Fri., Mar. 1, 2024 produced the winning numbers 15, 33, 37, 55, and 61, with Mega Ball number 24. The Megaplier multiplier was 4. No tickets matched the first five numbers.
Tonight's Powerball drawing will take place at 10:59 pm Eastern Time (7:59 pm Pacific). The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Tue., Mar. 5 at 11:00 pm Eastern Time (8:00 pm Pacific).
USA Mega publishes all the important information about both multi-state games in one place: the winning numbers, official drawing videos, locations of big winners, number of winners in each prize category, upcoming jackpots with after-tax payouts, statistics, and analysis.
Mega Millions and Powerball tickets are $2 per play and can be purchased at lottery retailers in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Mega Millions is not offered in Puerto Rico.)
Players looking for a nearby lottery retailer — or that out-of-the-way retailer with a smaller line — are encouraged to use Lottery Places, an app for iOS, Android, and Windows that can locate the nearest lottery retailers in every jurisdiction that sells Powerball and Mega Millions. The helpful app can locate lottery retailers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, much of Canada, and the Caribbean.
Mega Millions players can multiply prizes with the Megaplier option for an additional $1 per play. In several (but not all) states, Mega Millions also offers an optional $3 wager called Just the Jackpot that allows players to receive two entries for a chance to win the game's jackpot prize only.
Powerball players can multiply prizes with the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play. In fourteen Powerball jurisdictions, players can also participate in a second drawing called Powerball Double Play for an extra $1 per play, in which the numbers on their ticket are entered into a second drawing with the possibility of winning up to $10 million in cash. More information about Double Play can be found at USA Mega's How to Play Powerball page.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
The following list shows the top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time. Well, actually the top 34, so that we could include the current Powerball jackpot in the list. The current Mega Millions annuity ranks as the 18th-largest United States lottery jackpot in history.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $1.7649 billion, Oct. 11, 2023 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023 (31 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Florida
- 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, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024 (34 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: $650 million, Mar. 5, 2024 (24 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $476 million, Apr. 14, 2023 (20 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - New York
- Powerball: $473.1 million, Apr. 27, 2022 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Arizona
- Powerball: $460 million, Mar. 4, 2024 (26 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
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.
The upcoming Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 32nd-largest United States lottery jackpot cash value of all time, while the Powerball jackpot ranks as the 55th-largest cash value of all time (not shown below).
- 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: $794.2 million cash, Aug. 8, 2023 ($1.602 billion annuity) - Florida
- 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
- Powerball: $774.1 million cash, Oct. 11, 2023 ($1.7649 billion annuity) - California
- 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
- 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: $425.2 million cash, Jan. 1, 2024 ($842.4 million annuity) - Michigan
- 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
- 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
- Mega Millions: $314.4 million cash, Sep. 21, 2021 ($431 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $308.6 million cash, Mar. 5, 2024 ($650 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
best of luck and etc etc
No one wants these huge jackpots. You may think you do but it is too much money to be responsible for. You say give me a chance and I will prove you wrong. I will invest it and make much more with it. Why, I say would you need more. Reduce the matrix of numbers back to where it was originally. You can still have your power play which is a rip off by the way but that seems popular. We need more people winning less amounts. Hundred of millions of dollars sitting in some investment firms coffers after you win it benefits no one.
I enjoy the large jackpots. Would thoroughly enjoy winning one and giving to charities, a few family members and very few close friends or people who I know could use a helping hand. It's very socialistic of you billybucks to speak for everyone but you are living in nah nah land thinking on what all people want, should have or can't be responsible for.... Maybe in your Utopian world this happens. Thank goodness, I don't have to live my life by your beliefs and have the opportunity to exceed....Making more allows you to do more,give more and help others out when you want to. Being able to hand the Make-A-Wish/ Tunnels to Towers/ St Judes/ Ronald McDonald House/ Wounded Warriors/ Juvenile Diabetes foundations a check for $5 million each would go alot further today,then it would be trickled in over the next 30-50 years. Limitations on what you can/can't should/shouldn't have will continue to keep people down.
I agree they should go back to the old matrix. But, they should also increase the price per ticket to $5 while increasing the lower tiered prizes. This increase will also help to push the jackpot up at a higher rate so there is still the FOMO factor that helps to increase sales.
Once charities got wind of you donating large chunks of money to them it would never end.
This I like. 5.00 a ticket will get the pikers to stop playing yet the jackpots would increase quicker and with less numbers they would get hit more often with a normal amount of money won by more instead of these ridiculous amounts.
I have a office lottery pool of about 60, yes we do want the large jackpot lolz
I'm sure your employer is thrilled about that. How many hours a week do you spend on it at work and how distracting is it for the others to be discussing it or not putting in that week if they are out or even worse winning it and everyone quitting their jobs. Those other 59 people would be better off playing your state's lotto individually with far less numbers in it than this impossible to hit country wide game. There are now too many drawings a week for anyone to be able to keep up with running a pool of that size. It is a full time job. I am sure you are going to say that you have it down to a science. How much time does it take to check all the tickets for secondary prizes and then go redeem those and keep track of it.
Goodbye 1995 honda accord. Hello Maserati Ghibli
I agree with everything you mentioned! I just would like that opportunity if they allow me to win it. I've been playing for 20 years. Just let me have the mega plier or power play winning ticket if I don't win the jackpot and I'm happy with $2 - 5 million for the rest of my life but if the lottery gods give me the full jackpot I will be forever grateful and thankful and do good with it because I can't take it with me. Also most I ever won from the lottery is $100 🤦🏾♂️ and findings show you probably will never win it again after matching the first 5 balls for a million. They say odds are 1 in a trillion to win greater than that but hey I know people who still play after winning $2 million on a scratch off ticket so who am I to judge 🤷🏾♂️
* l hear the Seychelles calling, it never stopped. All the best to all LP members.👍
it will get hit, not sure yet.
Best of luck to all that play on this website 👍. In Massachusetts lottery fever is still running pretty good here. I always see it as the more you could win long term the more you could give locally or nationally over time. I live a pretty simple life and would travel to make wonderful memories and help locally as I see the country. Would definitely claim through a trust or llc to keep it anonymous as possible.
Love the big jackpot. I am playing in a lottery pool.
The pool greatly increases my chances of winning and the amount won is reasonable and yet still a life changing amount.
Once the Mega Millions jackpot is won, the pool will start playing Powerball.
Good luck everyone!