The odds of winning Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
The odds of winning the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292 million. Here are things you’re more likely to get than big bucks.
We have a winner!
A New Jersey player matched all six numbers in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing, winning the $1.13 billion jackpot. This is the first time the jackpot has been won this year, which has been steadily growing since December 2023 with 31 draws.
Although the official jackpot will be determined after sales are determined by all participating jurisdictions, the $1.13 billion prize just won was the fifth largest in Mega Millions history. There was a cash option of $537.5 million.
After the win, the jackpot was reset to $20 million with a $9.5 million cash option.
Here’s what you need to know about winning the Mega Millions lottery.
Shhh! If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, keep quiet. Then do this.
Who won the Mega Millions?
A lucky player in New Jersey collected the five white balls and the golden Mega Ball in the March 26 drawing, winning the $1.13 billion jackpot.
It had a cash value of $537.5 and has been growing over the last 31 drawings since two tickets in California shared the $394 million prize in December 2023.
The New Jersey player has not been publicly identified. It’s the first time a Garden State player has won the Mega Millions jackpot in nearly four years, the lottery said, with the last instance occurring in July 2020.
“Congratulations to the New Jersey Lottery for selling a winning jackpot ticket in Tuesday’s $1.13 billion Mega Millions drawing,” Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin, lead director of the Mega Consortium, said in a release Millions. “We’re celebrating our new jackpot winner, as well as all the prizes won and dollars raised for good causes during this exciting jackpot series.”
What were the last winning Mega Millions numbers?
The winning numbers from the draw on Tuesday, March 26 were 7, 11, 22, 29 and 38. The Mega Ball was 4 and the Megaplier was 2X.
In addition to the New Jersey jackpot win, there were also $2 million Match 5 + Megaplier winners in New York and $1 million Match 5 winners in the following states:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida (2)
- Georgia (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Michigan
- New York (2)
- Ohio
To see the full list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
When are Mega Millions withdrawn?
Mega Millions drawings are held in Atlanta every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET.
The next draw will be Friday, March 29.
What is Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which doubles, triples, quadruples, and quintuples non-jackpot prizes.
It costs an extra $1 per game. Each regular Mega Millions drawing is preceded by a Megaplier drawing. Out of a group of 15 balls, five are marked “2X”, three “4X” and one “5X”.
How to play Mega Millions
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per game. There are a total of nine ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.
Select Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the draw.
Players can add a “Megaplier” for $1, which can increase winnings outside of the jackpot by two, three, four or five. The Megapiler is drawn before the Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions numbers.
There are 15 Megapiler balls in total:
- 2Xfive balls
- 3Xsix balls
- 4Xthree balls
- 5Xone ball
What are the biggest Mega Millions jackpots?
Here are the five biggest Mega Millions jackpots ever won, according to the lottery:
- $1.602 billion from one winning ticket in Florida in August 2023
- $1.537 billion from one winning ticket in October 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.35 billion from one winning ticket in January 2023 in Maine
- $1.34 billion from one winning ticket in July 2022 in Illinois
- $1.13 billion from one winning ticket on March 26, 2024 in New Jersey
Where to buy Mega Millions tickets
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these US states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico , New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select your lottery game and numbers, place an order, view your ticket and claim your winnings using your phone or home computer.
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