Today could be the day your fortune changes forever. The Mega Millions lottery jackpot, estimated at a staggering $435 million with a cash option of $213.9 million, awaited its lucky winner for Tuesday night’s drawing. The last time the Mega Millions jackpot was claimed was on June 4 when a lottery player in Illinois walked away with an impressive $552 million, marking it as the ninth-largest Mega Millions win in history.
On another front, the Powerball jackpot stands at $20 million following a previous jackpot of $213.8 million won recently. Notable numbers drawn for the Tuesday, August 13th, 2024 Mega Millions were 34, 55, 59, 65, 70, and the Megaball was 12. The Megaplier, which can multiply non-jackpot winnings, was 4x.
Mega Millions enthusiasts might ponder if there’s a secret edge to winning. While there are numbers more frequently drawn than others, luck remains the key component. Drawings for this lottery occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
For those unfamiliar with the game, playing Mega Millions costs $2 per ticket, with an optional $1 add-on for the Megaplier to multiply your potential prize up to five times, excluding the jackpot. Participants select five numbers from 1 to 70 and an additional number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. Alternatively, players can opt for a Quick Pick to have numbers randomly generated. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or resident of a specific state to play.
Matching the Mega Ball alone wins you $2, while matching all five white balls can net you up to $1 million, with variations depending on state rules—California being a notable exception. Interested parties can find detailed prize information on the Mega Millions website.
Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah being the exceptions. Tickets are available at various locations, including gas stations, convenience stores, and some airport terminals. Digital options include Jackpocket, which offers online ticket purchasing and management in a growing number of states.
It’s crucial to note that deadlines for ticket purchases differ by state, typically ranging from 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing, and up to two hours for some third-party lottery platforms. For instance, Jackpocket in New Jersey closes ticket sales at 9:15 p.m. ET for the 11 p.m. drawing.
The excitement of playing often leads to musing about the odds, which stand at 1 in 302,575,350 for winning the jackpot. Matching all five white balls without winning the jackpot has odds of 1 in 12,607,306. Despite these steep odds, many find the thrill of potential victory worth the gamble.
Winners can choose between two jackpot payout options: an annuity or a lump-sum cash option. The annuity offers an immediate payment followed by 29 annual installments that increase by 5% each year. The cash option, although significantly lower than the annuity, provides immediate lump-sum payment.
In terms of anonymity, laws vary by state. Some states, like New Jersey, allow winners to remain anonymous, while others require the disclosure of a winner’s name and hometown.
Historically, Mega Millions has seen top jackpots like the record $1.602 billion won on August 8, 2023, in Florida. Other high-ranking jackpots include $1.537 billion won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018, and $1.348 billion on January 13, 2023, in Maine.
The largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever recorded was the $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in California on November 7, 2022. Other notable jackpots include the $1.765 billion Powerball win on October 11, 2023, also in California, and the $1.537 billion Mega Millions prize in South Carolina.
As the saying goes, you can’t win if you don’t play. And with the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots continuing to entice, countless hopefuls are dreaming big and scooping up tickets, each hoping today might just be their lucky day.
