As September begins, the Mega Millions® jackpot continues to surge, reaching an estimated $740 million for the drawing on Friday, September 6. This follows the September 3 drawing where no ticket matched all six numbers: 12, 41, 43, 52, 55, and Mega Ball 9. If the jackpot reaches this level, it will mark the seventh largest in Mega Millions history.
Historically, Mega Millions jackpots between $656 million and $1 billion have never been won. In the past, once these jackpots surpass $1 billion, they tend to keep rolling. The question now is whether this trend will hold for the upcoming draw.
In the latest drawing, there were over 1.5 million winning tickets across various prize levels. Notably, two tickets matched the five white balls to win $1 million each, sold in Kansas and Michigan. Additionally, 32 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball, with 11 of them winning $40,000 each due to the Megaplier option.
The current jackpot has been rolling since June 4, when it was last won at $552 million in Illinois. Since then, there have been 26 consecutive drawings, resulting in over 19 million winning tickets across different prize tiers.
This year, only two Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far. Before the June 4 win in Illinois, the last jackpot was a staggering $1.128 billion in New Jersey, which remains unclaimed as winners have up to a year to come forward.
Mega Millions has a unique distinction of producing six jackpots exceeding $1 billion, all won in different states. The largest, $1.602 billion, was claimed in Florida on August 8, 2023.
Tickets for Mega Millions are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, priced at $2 each. Players can opt for the Megaplier for an additional $1, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes. Half of the ticket sales proceeds remain in the state where the ticket was purchased, supporting local causes and retailer commissions.
Drawings occur at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia. The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, while the odds of hitting the jackpot stand at 1 in 302,575,350.
