On Tuesday night, Mega Millions officials confirmed the sale of a single winning ticket for the estimated $1.13 billion jackpot, marking a monumental moment in lottery history. This win in New Jersey signifies the first time this year that all the numbers aligned to claim the grand prize, making it the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever.
The Mega Millions jackpot had eluded winners for over three months, spanning 31 draws since two lucky tickets in California secured the jackpot on December 8th. The winning combination for Tuesday’s draw comprised the numbers 7, 11, 22, 29, and 38, with the Mega Ball being 4.
This estimated jackpot stands as the eighth largest in U.S. lottery records. The previous record for the biggest Mega Millions jackpot was a staggering $1.602 billion, claimed by a single ticket holder in Florida on August 8th of the preceding year. However, the largest prize in U.S. lottery history remains the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, won in California in February 2023.
Winners of such jackpots face the decision of receiving their winnings as a lump sum or in yearly installments over 30 years. Opting for the annuity ensures the full jackpot amount, while the lump sum, estimated at $537.5 million before taxes for Tuesday’s draw, provides immediate access to a portion of the winnings.
As of Tuesday night, Powerball boasted an estimated jackpot of $865 million.
To clinch the Mega Millions jackpot, players must match all five white balls along with the yellow Mega Ball. However, smaller prizes ranging from $2 upwards are attainable for matching some, but not all, of the drawn numbers. The odds of securing any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, but the chances of hitting the jackpot are an astonishingly slim 1 in 302,575,350.
Mega Millions tickets are available for purchase in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Standard tickets are priced at $2, with the option to add extras for increased payouts on non-jackpot prizes.
Looking ahead, the next Mega Millions drawing will reset with an estimated jackpot of $20 million, marking the beginning of another potentially lucrative jackpot series.