In a remarkable streak of fortune, the Mega Millions jackpot is on the verge of making history with an estimated $735 million prize available in the next drawing set for Tuesday, March 12. This colossal amount, which offers a $356.7 million cash option, positions itself as the sixth-largest jackpot in the game’s nearly 22-year legacy. It trails only behind five record-breaking jackpots that have surpassed the $1 billion mark.
The anticipation for the next winner builds as the grand prize continues to accumulate, following a series of draws without a match for all six winning numbers. The most recent drawing on Friday failed to find a match for the combination of white balls 19, 20, 22, 47, and 58, along with the gold Mega Ball 1, thus prolonging the jackpot’s growth since its last win on December 8. On that occasion, two lucky tickets from California shared the grand prize.
Despite the main jackpot remaining elusive, the game has generously awarded numerous prizes across various tiers throughout its current jackpot run, which has spanned 26 drawings to date. Over 18.5 million tickets have secured winnings, ranging from $2 to $4 million across all non-jackpot prize levels. This includes 30 significant second-tier prizes, each worth $1 million or more, distributed among winners in 17 jurisdictions nationwide, highlighting the game’s widespread appeal and impact.
A closer look at the March 8 drawing reveals that 1,171,297 tickets won prizes at various levels, excluding the jackpot. Notably, two tickets—one each from Georgia and Texas—snagged the $1 million second-tier prize by matching the five white balls. Moreover, 22 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball, winning the third-tier prize. Among these, two tickets were elevated to a $30,000 win each thanks to the Megaplier option, which tripled their prize, while the remaining 20 tickets received the standard $10,000 prize.
Mega Millions holds the distinction of being the only lottery game to have awarded five jackpots exceeding the $1 billion milestone, with each significant win occurring in different states, including Florida, South Carolina, Maine, Illinois, and Michigan. The game enjoys widespread participation with tickets available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, at $2 per play. Players also have the option to enhance their non-jackpot winnings by purchasing the Megaplier feature for an additional dollar.
The draw takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, offering players a chance at winning prizes with overall odds of 1 in 24. However, the odds of securing the jackpot stand at a more daunting 1 in 302,575,350. As the Mega Millions jackpot continues to grow, so does the excitement and anticipation among players across the country, all hoping to capture the next massive prize.
