Did Mega Millions make you a millionaire overnight? After no one matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in the Friday, Aug. 23 drawing, the grand prize climbed to an astounding $582 million for the Tuesday, Aug. 27 drawing. Tuesday’s winning numbers were 16, 18, 21, 54, 65, and the Mega Ball was 5, with a Megaplier of 2x. Friday’s numbers were 28, 30, 44, 66, 69, and the Mega Ball was 2, with a Megaplier of 3x.
Tickets for Mega Millions start at just $2 each. The jackpot for the Tuesday, Aug. 27 drawing was estimated at $582 million, with a cash option of $286.9 million.
In Wisconsin, you have 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing to claim your prize. A list of expired or soon-to-expire tickets can be found on the Wisconsin Lottery website. If prizes go unclaimed, their value is credited toward the Wisconsin Lottery property tax relief fund.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are a daunting 1 in 302.6 million, though any prize has a 1 in 24 chance of being won, regardless of the jackpot size.
Wisconsin lottery winners cannot remain anonymous due to open records laws that mandate the release of the winner’s name and city upon request. Additional personal information is released only with the winner’s consent.
Claiming your prize in Wisconsin varies by the amount won. For prizes up to $599, winnings can be redeemed at any Wisconsin Lottery retail location or at lottery offices in Madison or Milwaukee. For prizes between $600 and $199,999, in-person claims can be made at the Madison or Milwaukee offices, or tickets can be signed and mailed to the lottery’s P.O. Box. Prizes over $200,000 must be claimed in-person at the Madison office, with a suggested call ahead to schedule processing.
As of Aug. 27, 2024, there have been 11 lottery jackpots that reached or surpassed $1 billion, with only one surpassing the $2 billion mark:
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (Michigan)
- $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (California)
- $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
- $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024 (Oregon)
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
- $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (Maine)
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
- $1.58 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (Florida)
- $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (California, Florida, and Tennessee)
- $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023 (California)
- $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022 (California)
The Top 10 largest lottery jackpots in U.S. history include:
- $1.08 billion Powerball drawing — July 19, 2023 (California)
- $1.1 billion Mega Millions drawing — March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
- $1.33 billion Powerball drawing — April 6, 2024 (Oregon)
- $1.337 billion Mega Millions drawing — July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
- $1.35 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 13, 2023 (Maine)
- $1.537 billion Mega Millions drawing — Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
- $1.58 billion Mega Millions drawing — Aug. 8, 2023 (Florida)
- $1.586 billion Powerball drawing — Jan. 13, 2016 (California, Florida, and Tennessee)
- $1.765 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023 (California)
- $2.04 billion Powerball drawing — Nov. 7, 2022 (California)
If you purchased a ticket, check your numbers and see if you’re one of the lucky winners. Whether it’s a modest prize or a life-changing jackpot, the excitement of the possibility keeps millions in anticipation.
