14th-largest lottery jackpot in history
By Todd Northrop
The Mega Millions multi-state lottery game continued its jackpot run last night — now approaching $1 billion — when no tickets matched all six numbers.
Last night nobody won the Mega Millions lottery drawing, triggering another jackpot rollover that created a Friday jackpot estimated at $965 million with a cash value of $445.3 million.
To get to this massive size, the jackpot has been growing since it started on July 1 as a $50 million prize — now 39 consecutive drawings without a winner.
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot is the 8th-largest in the game's history, and the 14th-largest lottery jackpot in world history among all lottery games. The lump-sum cash value of $445.3 million is the 20th-largest on the all-time lottery jackpot cash value rankings (see full list below).
Players looking to calculate what they would receive after the initial federal and state tax withholdings can find it all pre-calculated for each Mega Millions jurisdiction on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
The largest lottery jackpot ever awarded was on Nov. 7, 2022, when one Powerball 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 purchases of houses one, two, and three, as well as being the subject of dubious lawsuits that are unfortunately predictable these days. (The lawsuit was thrown out last year.) One of those houses was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades fire, and Castro was later active in purchasing lots destroyed by the fire.
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.
The quickest way to find the winning numbers after the drawing Friday 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. Players can see if they can play Mega Millions online by tapping the link. Depending on the physical location of the person, the link will either provide access via a licensed butler service or the official state lottery itself.
Butler services provide scanned copies of the purchased lottery tickets securely held on behalf of the customer. In the past, such lottery ticket services were used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.
In Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a second-prize win: 1 from Arizona, 1 from Iowa, and 1 from New York. The ticket sold in Arizona had a 5x multiplier, awarding $5 million, while the tickets from Iowa and New York each had a 3x multiplier for a $3 million win.
A total of 27 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win prizes ranging from $20,000 to $40,000. California, which sold 5 of those winning tickets, is the only state awarding different prize amounts.
A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers (including the unique California prize amounts) 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 Tuesday, November 11, 2025, were 10, 13, 40, 42, and 46, with Mega Ball number 1.
Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $65 million from its previous amount of $900 million. The cash value was raised by $30 million from its previous amount of $415.3 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 Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $5 each, and all tickets include the multiplier feature, including those sold in California.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 14th-largest lottery jackpot in world history.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $1.7874 billion, Sep. 6, 2025 (41 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Missouri, Texas
- 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: $1.3259 billion, Apr. 6, 2024 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $1.269 billion, Dec. 27, 2024 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.128 billion, Mar. 26, 2024 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - New Jersey
- 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
- Mega Millions: $965 million, Nov. 14, 2025 (39 rollovers, starting at $50 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024 (34 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $800 million, Sep. 10, 2024 (27 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Texas
- 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
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
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 20th-largest cash value in world 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
- Powerball: $820.6 million cash, Sep. 6, 2025 ($1.7874 billion annuity) - Missouri, Texas
- 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: $621 million cash, Apr. 6, 2024 ($1.3259 billion annuity) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $571.9 million cash, Dec. 27, 2024 ($1.269 billion annuity) - California
- 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: $536.6 million cash, Mar. 26, 2024 ($1.128 billion annuity) - New Jersey
- 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
- Mega Millions: $445.3 million cash, Nov. 14, 2025 ($965 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $404.2 million cash, Sep. 10, 2024 ($800 million annuity) - Texas
- 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
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
Lotto machine said I won $30 on MM with X3 multiplier...had it been 10X=$100. Still very happy.
KY has an offer, buy two MM tickets on Fridays in November and get a free Powerball ticket.
"The rush of ticket sales over the next few days may propel the jackpot to an even higher amount before the drawing tales place."
Now that's funny.
Ever since Mega Millions jacked up the price to $5.00, sales have crashed. There is no "rush." The last time we were around $1,000,000,000 was when the ticket cost $2.00 and they sold 100,000,000 tickets.
For Tuesday 11/11/2025 Mega Millions drawing only 19 million tickets were sold.
There won't be any rush as many people can't afford $5.00. Yes, when it reaches a real $1 billion ticket sales will jump - maybe as high as 25 to 30 million but that only covers 10% of the number combinations.
Statistically we are headed to a record jackpot over the old Powerball record of $2.04 billion back in 2022. maybe around mid to late December. Of course it can be won any time but the old record will be broken if not this cycle then in the future. They designed it this way.
If they don't get what they want, maybe it will $10.00. No one will object verbally. They just won't buy.
You're thinking in terms of number of tickets, not dollars spent. Number of tickets does not set the jackpot level, the amount spent does.
Of course they will sell fewer tickets because of the higher price. That is a given. The real analysis is how fast the jackpot grows due to dollars spent. And in that regard, I'd say it's growing slower than before.
The last time the jackpot reached $1 billion it took 30 draws to do it. This time it'll take 40 draws. So it's definitely slower. Of course there are other factors too, like time of year, the economy, etc. (There's a fantastic video that goes into all these factors affecting jackpot growth.)
So far the increased price has slowed jackpot growth, but let's see a wildly-large jackpot run first, and then watch the aftermath before declaring the ultimate market decision on the game changes.
Guess I was wrong about the promotion I mentioned; not on their website but will check again Friday.
My husband says he's playing , good luck honey.
* My thinking exactly, it's the reason l don't fall for this " l quit buying MM tickets "since they raised the price. Trash cans in stores are filled with $5 scratchers that failed to deliver. Sane people are not stupid, just saying..🤨
I get free ten cent returnable cans so will play it and then rotate back to PB when it is near a billion.
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No mm ticket purchase from me until it reaches $1 billion. $5 a ticket is a game killer.
IDK about others but several times have asked strangers/locals if they were going to get a MM ticket. So far they've all said NO.
* They saying " No" because they not being truthful. Why? Cause they find out later that a SINGLE $5.00 QP won the $900 million jackpot. Then we get into the " l should or could've " realm of conjecture.
* Don't you know: Humans, unlike animals are habitual liars.
It's not the 5 bucks that's stopping me it's the crappieness of the game.
If it were $5 for the old 56/46 I'd play it but the current version is caca.
Maybe they will come to their senses and revert to 56/46 but I doubt it.
Michigan went from 6/40 to 44 to 47 to 49 to 51 then back to 49 and finally in 2005, I believe, back to 47 and there it has sat for 20 years.
I just looked up Castro's house near the Chateau Marmot and realized I had a relative I never met who, according to the scale on Google maps, lived 500 feet from the Chateau Marmot.
If I ever win I have done genealogy so there will be no long lost relatives 😜😉😎
* Wow, l know the truth hurts at times, but l didn't think it cuts this deep over an opinion. 😾
I have not played mm since the increase. I think $5 is ridiculous for one ticket but I do not play scratchers either. I prefer to wait for my cash 5 game to reach a certain point and the $1 is a good value. If I choose not to do something, I never think should of or could of after the fact. I am not swayed by a ridiculous long shot. The person who won was destined to win it.
Powerball765.........,No, you're not going to win it. Saying you will is a definite jinx.
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So .... everybody's now onboard the good ship
Lotto Fever heh?
Where have y'all been the last weeks when I tried unsuccessfully to rally interest in MegaMillions?
Oh well .... better late than never right?
I forgive all of you ......welcome aboard!!!!!
May we all win something and may I win everything!!!!
Now how about liverwurst sandwiches for everyone?
Have a shaggy day!
ShagE3
"The real analysis is how fast the jackpot grows."
My analysis was about the odds of winning which has absolutely nothing to do with the growth in the jackpot.
That is the REAL analysis.
Your point is valid. It just has nothing to do with what I wrote. Everyone here else is commenting on the higher $5.00 price and its behavior on their buying a ticket. That also is affecting Mega Millions buyers nationwide. Precisely my point.
And it's taken 5 months since the last winner with this $5 ticket LOL. Meanwhile Powerball was won 2 months ago and its already up to half a billion on a $2 ticket 🤔
Although admittedly I have tried the $5 price point maybe 5 times since it started some Fridays and have yet to win anything. It's a ridiculously high price for a game where you are pretty likely to win nothing. The out of touch people in charge of MM ruined the dollar and a dream thought
Great, good luck to everyone playing.
We'll sit back and watch the show.
It's set to make it to a billion in its 21st week run.
Previous billion dollar run was in the 16th week.
May all your multipliers be 10.
Since I can't edit the post I'll do the reply.
For those who asked the answer is no not Castro but my relatives lived near his neighborhood
I'm reconsidering my buy in point and will probably change it from 2.5 Billion to 4.4 or 4.5 Billion so I will be sitting back and watching also.
Good luck to anyone who actually believes they are going to win this beast!
Jackpot updated to $980 million, with cash option of $452.2 million.
Cash option is bumped up one position to 19th-largest ever.
Just saw that in a liquor store and it didn't register until I thought $965 million.
The KY lotto promotion I referred to day's ago only happens first Friday of the month X 3...now if this bad boy rolls over through 05 DEC 25....(Buy $10 Mega millions and get a free Powerball).
I’ll be claiming via trust but gonna let my fellow LP members know when I win tonight.
And will be donating $1000 to St. Jude’s on behalf of, for every LP member.
At the time of posting this, there were 256,731 LP members.
If you give $1000 for each, that's $256,731,000.
The lump sum win is 284 million before state taxes.
So that leaves you with around $28 Million after your generosity.
Still a decent amount.
Maybe not all at the same time then.
Delottery.com
has the current MM jackpot at 50 mil ....... Maybe it was someone from Delaware who won tonight????
How was Delaware allowed to do this before the official mm website did?????
Any congrats to the winner ....,
Powerball tomorrow!
Not playing until it's $1B with this $5 ticket so I guess it'll be another year
One winning ticket sold in Georgia.
Winner is in Georgia. I'm in the lottery pool that buy the tickets in GA. I hope it's us .:)
last time, we collected $5000, bought 1000 tickets.
Adios Mega,on to Powerball....
I hear you!
Had #7 two tickets but only 3x multiplier=$30.
I'd tell you NO!
That's because I abandoned MM for PB a long time ago due to the fact that PB's odds were lower. (Not sure if that's still true after the last change to MM) Call me a creature of habit, but after I abandoned MM I simply stuck with PB and completely ignored MM. The other thing for me personally is that I'm trying for a second place win no matter what the advertised jackpot may be. When I buy a ticket I typically don't know (nor do I care) what the jackpot amount is.
I do buy the PowerPlay when I play (which isn't every drawing) so each line I buy costs 3 me bucks, but 5 bucks (without the option of whether or not I want to buy it) is too much money. G5
And yes, I do buy scratch offs that cost more than 5 bucks. (Actually I DONT buy them, my wife is the scratch off player) so it's not that I can't afford 5 bucks to buy MM, it's more that I like PB better than MM.
I've heard players talk about waiting to get a good bang for their buck when they buy a lottery ticket but that never made much sense or difference to me. (That's probably because i didn't understand what they were taking about)
To me, any type of lottery ticket a player might buy is a suckers bet anyway, so why would I care about getting a "good value"?
Do I want to win a couple million bucks? Hell yeah! That's why I bought the ticket in the first place. But I aint holdin' my breath when I buy that ticket either. G5
"Of course they will sell fewer tickets because of the higher price. That is a given. The real analysis is how fast the jackpot grows due to dollars spent. And in that regard, I'd say it's growing slower than before."
Correct. Players are currently voting with their dollars with jackpots at levels we've seen in the past. But how will they vote with their dollars should MM set a new jackpot record? That's what we haven't seen yet. I think eventually that will happen, and it should be interesting to see how fast it grows then. It might be explosive and if that happens people will be buzzing about it. Five bucks might not mean all that much. G5
" Destined to win the jackpot?" Sounds ridiculous, why? Why then do we not hear or read " that person was destined to drown, or get beheaded. Why does destiny only apply to money? Like l said ridiculous. It's pure chance, nothing more or less.