Feeling lucky? If today’s your day, you could be on your way to becoming the next millionaire. Here’s why. Tuesday night’s Mega Millions lottery jackpot stood at an estimated $97 million, with a tempting cash option that sees you walk home with a cool $46.4 million. The latest intel from the Mega Millions website confirms this sum.
The last lucky star to win the jackpot was an Illinois lottery player, on June 4, claiming an enormous $552 million. This made it the ninth-largest payout in the storied history of Mega Millions.
Stay tuned, as there’s more in the universe of gigantic lottery pools. The Powerball jackpot is not far behind Mega Millions, standing tall at $95 million, also with a considerable cash option of $45.7 million. This information, according to the Powerball website, can turn your life around.
Who knew the combination of these numbers could be so fruitful? The winning Mega Millions numbers drawn on Tuesday, June 25 in 2024, were 3, 16, 27, 47, 62, and Megaball 8. And Megaplier, on that fortunate day, was 4x.
The Mega Millions drawings are an anticipated event held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. But keep in mind, the lure of up to a cool billion might be too strong to resist.
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, if selection isn’t your strong suit, worry not. The lottery machine can generate a random Quick Pick for you.
You have to match the Mega Ball, even if just one, to claim a prize of $2. Besides the jackpot, you could win up to $1 million for matching all five white balls, though in California, things are different.
You can join in on the fun in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and even the U.S. Virgin Islands. The five states opting out of the Mega Millions adventure include Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Tickets are available at your nearest gas station, convenience store, or grocery store. While some airports sell lottery tickets at their terminals, tickets can also be purchased online via Jackpocket. The nifty app lets you select your lottery game and numbers, place an order, view your ticket, and even collect your winnings.
Every state imposes its deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket. Be wary of the clock, as these deadlines can be 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing. In some cases, the deadline is up to two hours before the drawing.
With odds of claiming the jackpot standing at 302,575,350-to-1, and that of matching all five white balls at 12,607,306-to-1, it could still be a breathless run to millions.
In the major US lotteries, winners can opt for either a lump sum cash option, significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, or the annuity option, paid out over time- an immediate payment followed by 29 yearly payments, each increasing by 5% annually.
In states like New Jersey, winners can decide to stay anonymous. However, in other states, winner’s name and domicile city are part of the public record. Always check with your state lottery for this information.
Mega Millions jackpots have made dreams come true before; you might be the next dreamer. Among the top 10 Mega Millions jackpots, the biggest was a whopping $1.602 billion, scooped up by a Florida resident in August 2023. The others range from $1.537 billion to $543 million, distributed among several jubilant winners across the nation.
Your ticket to riches is a play away. So gear up and try your luck tonight; it could be a jaw-dropping jackpot waiting to make you the next millionaire.
