8th-largest cash value jackpot in U.S. history
By Todd Northrop
After an astounding 31 drawings without a grand prize winner, Mega Millions features an enormous jackpot promising multi-generational wealth to a ticketholder with enough luck to overcome the 1 in 259 million odds stacked against them.
In the Friday night Mega Millions drawing no player won the top prize, increasing the jackpot estimate for Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing to $390 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $265.4 million.
The new amount raises the annuity jackpot ranking to the 4th-largest in Mega Millions history, and overall tied for the 12th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time. The cash option is the 8th-largest ever seen in any United States lottery game. (See the full list of top-25 United States annuity and cash lottery jackpots below.)
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
In the latest Mega Millions drawing that took place this past Friday night, there was no jackpot winner, but 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arizona, 1 from Illinois, 1 from North Carolina, and 1 from Texas.
Only the winner from Texas purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play and increased their prize to $5 million, as the Megaplier drawn Friday was 5.
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 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.
A total of 79 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 7 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $25,000, and 11 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $4,816.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, June 24, 2016, were 11, 14, 54, 57, and 63, with Mega Ball number 11. The Megaplier number was 5.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $27 million from its previous amount of $363 million. The cash value was raised by $20.8 million, from its previous amount of $244.6 million.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 12th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Tuesday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Jun. 28, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 10
- The Big Game: 2
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
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 8th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- 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
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $265.4 million cash, Jun. 28, 2016 ($390 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 11
- The Big Game: 1
Would not mind grabbing this jackpot: whole or in part. All the best people, make it happen.Bring her reign to an end... Tonight!
I always try for the 5 regular balls, mega ball would be bonus, 1 million, sounds good to me.
What time is the California cut off for purchasing lottery tickets? Must be kind of early, like 7:30 p.m.
Maybe if no one wins tonight she'll jump up into twelfth place for Friday.
Good luck noise-gate; just bought another one on line and have two months left on my Mass. subscription and still nothing on MM or PB. just L4L and Megabucks Doubler. (You can buy, as you probably know, MegaBucks Doubler over the phone. I'd wait until the November sale to get seven weeks free). Check their website, last year they had a first time summer sale.
Nobody's gonna win.
This will roll into the multiple billions.
Massachusetts lottery sale 3 JUL-06 AUG 16 under the big sale on their website. May only renew Megabucks Doubler since my Brother takes his sweet time to get my tickets! Good luck noise-gate et al.
31 roll overs... jheez... even dung beetles make faster piles of...
Bleudog101, I am quoting from a Mega Millions play slip. For Mega Millions here in California the Draw Entry Closes at 7:45 pm TUE & FRI
Power Ball is different.
I am ready to keep the Lump Sum after all deductions and taxes will be $160,000,000.00 Just imagine what my stock broker will say when I start investing most of it. My real estate broker will also be happy to see me.
Why am I not taking the annuity? My age, health, the current interest rate, and the unknown future are all factors in my decision to take the cash.
Here in California, I will have to wait 6-8 weeks to get my check.
Although my heart says, "do the press event and the grip and grin photo shoot" I will use my head and say NO to both.
My first gifts will go to the family. Charity begins at home.
I will see you all in the winners circle. It has been fun!
.
I hope there is at least a 12-way split, for the jackpot.
2nd place can be as many as will be, but I guess there will be 29 2nd placers.
A 12-way split will happen when a group wins. I guess the same applies to your 29 Second place winners.
I stopped to get one MM ticket with the Megaplier. I asked the cashier for a MM ticket with Megaplier. He said "You want a $2 mega?" I said, NO, I want one game with the multiplier. He gave me a $1 Mega ticket, without the Megaplier.
So, I ended up taking that ticket, plus a ticket with Megaplier after he finally understood that I wanted one game with Megaplier and not two $1 games.
Sometimes I think retailers do things like that on purpose because they know most of the time the customers will take the mistake tickets.
So...I will graciously accept $1 mil up to $5 mil or the whole enchilada!
The fortune cookie event..... It is entirely possible for 10 or 11 people to self pick the same combination given human nature. Add in 1 or 2 quick pick matches and thus a 12 way split.
I would never return to such a place, except to take their money by cashing in my winning tickets. Give money to the clean places with nice cashiers who know what they are doing and take money from places that aren't that.
I think somebody hits it next Tuesday as I am predicting it's sad that the way they have these lotteries operating
.
That's what I had to do, with the grocery store around the corner.
They act like lotto is some new thing that started a few weeks ago, and the whole world has now jumped on the lotto-wagon.
And now, they're sick of dealing with all lotto players.
It's a akin to some local banks that removed the coin sorters/counters, for folks who save
their change. I guess that Coin Star sued because they weren't getting their 8.9% fee.
It all sucks now: 1) Banks without coin sorters, 2) Store employees who deal with
players the same way the banks with coin machines that need frequent service did.
You can't complain to the state lotto hq, because they'll take the side of the useless store.
You can't complain to the banks because they'll tell you that all the banks in the area have removed their coin machines.
And the banks are right! I looked it up online, about coin machines in my area and sure enough, that was the case.
Fortunately, there's a convenience store down, a few miles where they're ALL well-oriented in lotto.
Of course, they have all the scratch-off games, and a sit-down area to do the keno and race track games.
AND YET, they don't speak nearly the level of English that the folks at the grocery store do!
But, having to switch stores, because of continual employee incompetence is a major inconvenience.
Hey that fourth girl looks like my grandma!
My "favorite" time was when I went in to the neighborhood 7-11 and asked for 14 mega millions with multiplyer and got 40 without the multiplyer. The clerk who had limited English thought 14 meant 4-0 not 14. And she argued with me (a native English speaker) that I didn't know what 14 meant! It wasn't even a misunderstanding except for hers on what 14 means. And she had no idea what the megaplyer was and was too arrogant to ask me.
Luckily my husband was with me and was able to give me extra cash to cover the $40 and I was still able to get my original $28 worth. I kept them all because I had previously won nice money on a clerk's mistake. If I remember correctly I made the $40 back so it wasn't too bad. But from that point on I started stockpiling play slips and almost always use them unless I go to one store where we are well known and they know their stuff.
Why would their English proficiency matter at all? Just hand them the play slip and that's it. The last thing you want when money is involved is to give and get small talk with people you don't know and who would know that you won.
Hey King...If you won the jackpot, would you share it with all of us on LP? A true leftist like you would surely to that. BTY whats your major in college? Women or minority studies? You're in America bud. We speak English here!
I love those old movies from the 1930's. I love seeing the art deco apartments in some of the movies.
Thank God art deco died out with snow cone bras.
If you just look at the last ten draws you will see 1-up 1-down repeating numbers series even mirror numbers
It can be done if you pick yourself...I've been pretty close recently
That's communism, very different. Political Science and History. I did take Africana studies classes because you won't have any other time in your life to be able to study what is going on in the world (the third world especially) and the history of it. Go to a border town on either border and you'll get laughed out of town for saying that. Unfortunately, i am unilingual but i have studied Spanish and Hebrew. I don't remember any of it.
OK King...What do you believe in? Bill Gate's money should go to him and ?. Answer that?
Ok lotto Gods.Lets do this.
Gold Diggers both male and females have never been scarce and will only continue to grow in popularity.
The top tax rate in the 1950's was 90%. If only we could have real politicians advocating reasonable rates like that. Unfortunately all we got in 2016 was the centrist Sanders and his pathetic 52%. The rest of the world laughs at us and our insane obsessions with low taxes, no gun control and terrifyingly low minimum wage.
An ideal scenario for you would most likely be a 90% top tax rate and a $100 an hour minimum wage. That will go a long way towards paying for a $50 Big Mac or a new $200k Toyota Corolla while living in government confiscated mansions that have been converted to multi family units.
70% seems quite fine. I know it's practicably impossible in this far-right country. 50 years ago the largest employer was General Motors which paid the equivalent of $50 an hour, today it's Walmart at $7.25 an hour. $18ish bucks is right around what it needs to be given the inflation of the last 30 years. I visited Israel which has a 100% tax on cars, just saying. There are more vacant homes in America then homeless people and there are millions of homeless in America. Enough said.
Good luck to all players!!!
You can win the Mega Millions lottery game jackpot and help to spread communism all over the world. I have heard that religions cannot survive in a communist country. The world biggest religions fear communism.
com·mu·nism
noun
a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
That's not what Marx was about but you'd have to actually read his texts to know. I have a feeling you don't.
"each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs" sounds oddly merit-based (aka capitalist) for communism, no?
THE LOTTERY INDUSTRY WAS PROBABLY CREATED BY COMMUNISTS.
Communism is thus a form of socialism—a higher and more advanced form, according to its advocates. Exactly how communism differs from socialism has long been a matter of debate, but the distinction rests largely on the communists' adherence to the revolutionary socialism of Karl Marx. Brittanica
THE USA IS BASED ON CAPITALISM/SOCIALISM. YOU DO NOT OWN ANYTHING IN THE USA UNLESS YOU PAY TAXES FOR IT.
THE GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE YOUR HOUSE AND LAND IF YOU FAIL TO PAY TAXES.
Reminds me of trying to get my subscription ticket in Hyannis, MA last July. Many of the stores did not know what I was talking about or how to ring up subscription tickets. I was tempted to report them to the Mass. lottery but what would be the point of that? I just wish I bought them in my hometown of Holliston and there would have been no language barrier. I did however go to a 7-11 and the clerk there rang them up no problem.
TheMeatman2005,
That happens often around where I am.
I now try to play where I know the clerk is a lottery player, too and knows the lingo.
Thanks Good Luck to you also
$390 Million
I bought two tickets from circle k here in mcminnville oregon so I hope that I get at least $2 million since I added the megaplier to each ticket. Come on lotto lady bring me some luck.-weshar75
The state of ARIZONA is winning this jackpot it's written for a young black king......
Checked out their site as I periodically purchase season tickets for Megabucks Doubler. They really need to do a better job proofreading their material. They have the math all wrong in comparing how much you save with the discounted price vs the regular price. They're also calling the game "Megabuck Double"!
That being said I'll be taking advantage of the sale and getting myself another subscription. They're also drawing 10 $1,000 bonus prizes for people who start or renew a subscription during the sale period.
Weshar- l was seriously pulling the lever for you hoping that you bagged the 2nd prize in the Powerball jackpot the other night. Keep hoping youngster.
Anyways l probably will throw my back out again tonight in pulling for you.
I have a feeling it will be won tonight ,, Sadly it wont be me
I am going to guess two winners. One from Georgia and one from Nebraska
Would gladly take a 1M match 5 prize of course ,, That 600K+ after taxes would be very useful to me and my family right now
It's gonna come down to a winner from a State close to water. No disrespect to the Great State of Nebraska, but huh? You can't even get a Rock Group to call themselves Nebraska. You have groups called Kansas, Boston ,Chicago etc etc...doubt you'll ever hear folks say " We bought tickets to see Nebraska, they playing at--Stadium." Nope, winner is going to be close to water, just watch.
Well...I'm in it to win it...got two lines...
not even close
I got one away from every number (on different lines, too). If the mega ball was 2, that would have been awesome!
I got nothing on two $4 tickets so here's to a rollover.-weshar75
same. Here's to a rollover to 415M!
Winner takes all. Everyone is an island. Everyone helps but themselves. That is the true American value.
And...somewhere out there Jesus and Buddha are sitting in a celestial tavern, discussing what went wrong.
I think this numbers look like someone will win. Mostly low numbers, birthdays, it will be a win.
I would be happy with current California Fantasy 5. I just need the money to pay off the debts and go back to school for a 18-month training and job placement program. Around $650,000 before tax? I can live with that. If I can get a decent job in the industry after the training then the money is well spent.
www.laafa.org
Folks from other states will trouble understand but being a good artist with consistent work output and diligence can give you some decent career options in LA area. And even after finishing the program I would still have most of the money, since the total tuition would cost around $30000 for 18 months.
Winning nine-figure prize would be a headache.
And we have another rollover.
No one won it. 35 and 55 are neither low nor a birthday number.
I would be torn when I buy a Powerball ticket tomorrow morning. I wanna win something big, but I am perfectly happy with mid 6-figure prize. Maybe less attentions.
Of course not 32 and 35, but the other numbers. But rollover 32 is a fact.
Yep. The Texas lottery is reporting that their 5+0 winner was a Quick Pick so it must suck to be the New Jersey winner given (s)he most likely self-picked them.
Let it grow..... Let it grow !!
...well at least the multiplier was only 2, so they won't kick themselves too hard for not putting down the extra dollar!
It rolled over to 415 million which is only 25 a million increase. Compared to previous roll overs when the jackpot reached this range, that is pathetic.
Good!
The bigger, the better!!!
Wow, I haven't heard that song in a long time. Love Clapton.
Thanks for posting it!
Well, I called it when I said no one would win lol.
No one will win this next drawing either. However you can increase your chances of winning by a lot if you buy your tickets in New Jersey, or have someone from New Jersey buy your tickets. They won another 5+0 again.
Someone in Texas did too.
IT JUST ROLLED TO 454 FOR MEGA MILLIONS
Now I see why Todd held up on posting the $449m. This is going to be fun!
I think this may be the first time where the cash value increased by a greater amount than the jackpot.
Jackpot- 449 to 454
Cash - 313.3 to 319.7
When the MM jackpot a few drawings ago went up 9 million, the cash went up over 10 million so no it isn't the first time.