The fifth largest Mega Millions jackpot
A single ticket sold in New Jersey clinched the staggering $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday night, marking the first time this year that all numbers aligned for the grand prize. This windfall, ranking as the fifth largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won, breaks a dry spell of over three months without a jackpot winner, spanning 31 consecutive drawings since December 8th when two tickets in California struck luck.
The winning numbers drawn were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, with the Mega Ball number 4.
This massive jackpot stands as the eighth largest in U.S. lottery history, trailing the record-breaking $1.602 billion Mega Millions jackpot claimed in Florida on August 8th, 2023. Notably, the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, a staggering $2.04 billion Powerball prize, was snagged in California in February 2023.
Winners of the Mega Millions jackpot have the choice between a lump sum cash payment or a 30-year annuity option. Opting for the lump sum, before taxes, would yield an estimated $537.5 million from Tuesday’s draw.
Mega Millions lottery
While Mega Millions draws occur on Tuesdays and Fridays, Powerball holds its drawings on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings, boasting an estimated jackpot of $865 million as of Tuesday night.
To secure the Mega Millions jackpot, players must match all five white balls along with the yellow Mega Ball. Lesser prizes, starting from $2, are awarded for partial matches. The odds of winning a Mega Millions prize stand at 1 in 24, with jackpot odds at a staggering 1 in 302,575,350.
Mega Millions tickets are available in 45 states, alongside Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Standard tickets cost $2, with additional fee options for increased non-jackpot prize payouts.
As the jackpot resets, the next Mega Millions drawing will start anew with an estimated $20 million jackpot.