All news

Feeling lucky? Mega Millions jackpot soars to $560 million - ninth largest jackpot ever!

Have you purchased your tickets yet?

The Mega Millions logo.
Todd Betzold

Have you purchased your tickets for Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing? The multi-state draw game is offering its ninth-largest jackpot ever!

No jackpot winner on Friday

The last Mega Millions drawing took place on Friday, May 31, and there were no jackpot-winning tickets sold. The white balls drawn were 4, 11, 23, 33, and 49, and the Mega Ball was 23.

While no one won the $522 million jackpot that was available for that draw, there was a lucky ticket purchased in Chino Hills, California that matched the five white balls to win $508,408. For the state of California, they base their non-jackpot prizes on actual sales.

Ninth-largest Mega Millions jackpot

With no winner on Friday, the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $560 million for Tuesday's drawing. This is the ninth-largest jackpot ever. The cash option would be an estimated $258.4 million.

The last jackpot winner took place on March 26, which is when a ticket in New Jersey won the $1.13 billion jackpot. That happened to be the fifth largest Mega Millions jackpot ever.

What is the cash option?

When it comes to the major lotteries in the United States, there are usually two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.

For the annuity option, it is paid out over time. For Mega Millions jackpot winners taking the annuity option, there would be an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, which increase by 5% each year.

For the cash option, it is paid in one lump sum payment. As mentioned above, the cash option for this estimated $560 million jackpot would be $258.4 million, so much lower than the advertised jackpot but you also don't have to wait decades for the money.

Where is Mega Millions available to play?

While Mega Millions is available to play in most states in the country, it is not available everywhere. You can currently play the game in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states currently not offering Mega Millions are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

Big jackpot, but what are the odds of winning?

When the jackpots get high in games like Mega Millions and Powerball, more and more people start buying tickets. We all get those hopes and dreams of winning the big jackpot. However, what are the odds of winning a jackpot in Mega Millions?

The odds of matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the jackpot prize are 1 in 302.6 million. The odds of matching only the five white ball numbers to win $1 million are 1 in 12.61 million.

Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots

While we have mentioned that Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot will be the ninth largest in the game's history, here is a look at the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:

  1. $1.6 billion - August 8, 2023 - Florida winner
  2. $1.54 billion - October 23, 2018 - South Caroline winner
  3. $1.35 billion - January 13, 2023 - Maine winner
  4. $1.34 billion - July 29, 2022 - Illinois winner
  5. $1.13 billion - March 26, 2024 - New Jersey winner
  6. $1.05 billion - January 22, 2021 - Michigan winner
  7. $656 million - March 30, 2012 - Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland
  8. $648 million - December 17, 2013 - Two winners in California and Georgia
  9. $560 million - June 4, 2024 - Upcoming drawing
  10. $543 million - July 24, 2018 - California winner

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

Related games

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

The 7-Eleven located in Anaheim at 763 North Euclid Street.
California Lottery player hits massive $526.5 million Powerball jackpot

After 29 draws since the last big win, a California player won this latest jackpot from a 7-Eleven in Anaheim.

Chris Imperiale profile pic

Chris Imperiale

The Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America logos on a yellow background with stars.
Notable Jackpots this Weekend, Including $515M Powerball

Play Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America this weekend for big wins.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

Casey's General Store #1305, located at 70 S. Somonauk Rd. in Cortland.
One ticket, $344 million — Mega Millions has a big winner in Illinois

After a $552M jackpot win in 2024, Illinois snags another massive prize. Is it now the luckiest lottery state?

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The Cash4Life logo over a white and golden background.
Cash4Life pays big this weekend with top prizes in Florida, Virginia

A dream payday, as one lucky player will get $1,000 a day for life, while two others locked in $1,000 a week.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
76-year-old Mildred Simoneriluto.
Woman accidentally donates $2.5M winning lottery ticket

One woman's mistake could be someone else's windfall — will this ticket ever be found before it expires?

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A close up of a hand holding a Mega Millions playslip and dollar bills.
How much do Americans spend on lottery tickets?

Lotto ticket sales keep increasing across the country, according to the latest data.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

Casey's store located at 604 N. Main St. in Republic.
Couple accused of stealing $70K in lottery tickets — hiding in a trunk

From pocketed scratch-offs to a dramatic getaway attempt, this alleged scheme was anything but a winning ticket.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Screen captures from video surveillance of the four suspects of this scam.
Fake lottery win costs elderly Bronx woman $17K in real jewelry

NYPD hunts four men who stole thousands in jewelry after distracting an elderly victim with lottery lies.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher