Is today your lucky day? The Mega Millions lottery jackpot was an estimated $457 million with a cash option of $214.2 million for Friday night’s drawing, according to the Mega Millions website. The jackpot was last won on Dec. 8 when two California tickets sold at the same location split a $394 million Mega Millions jackpot.
Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot is at $306 million with a cash option of $144.5 million, according to the Powerball website.
What are the 2/16/24 winning Mega Millions numbers?
Here are the Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, Feb. 16, 2024: 19 – 23 – 39 – 42 – 67 and Megaball 18. The Megaplier was 4x.
How do I play Mega Millions?
The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot). Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident of a particular state where you purchase your ticket.
How many balls do I need to match for a Mega Millions prize?
You can win $2 for matching just one – the Mega Ball. Short of the jackpot, you can win up to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California). You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site.
Where is Mega Millions available?
You can play the game in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states not offering Mega Millions are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Where can you buy lottery 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 select U.S. states.
What is the deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets?
The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket varies by state, so don’t wait until the last minute. It can be 15 minutes to an hour or more before the actual drawing. For some third-party lottery apps, the deadline can be closer to two hours before the drawing. For example, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a deadline of 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. ET drawing.
What are my odds of winning the lottery?
Playing the Mega Millions can be exciting, but just don’t go spending those millions before you win. The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350-to-1. The odds to match all five white balls are 12,607,306-to-1.
What does cash option mean?
The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash. The annuity option is paid out over time, with an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year. The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot but is paid in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades for all the money.
Can a jackpot winner remain anonymous?
In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn’t always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. In other states, a winner’s name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.
What are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots?
Here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:
1. $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
2. $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
3. $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: Won in Maine
4. $1.337 billion, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
5. $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
6. $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
7. $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
8. $543 million, July 24, 2018: Won in California
9. $536 million, July 8, 2016: Won in Indiana
10. $533 million, March 30, 2018: