The Mega Millions jackpot is making headlines again, soaring to an estimated $1.25 billion! After no ticket matched all six numbers in the drawing on Tuesday, August 1st, the jackpot continues to climb, creating excitement across the nation. The next drawing on Friday, August 4th, presents a life-changing opportunity for lucky players. How much is the Mega Millions now? Let’s dive into the details of this massive jackpot and what it means for players.
This staggering $1.25 billion prize, with a cash value of $625.3 million, ranks as the fourth-largest in Mega Millions history. The white balls drawn on Tuesday were 8, 24, 30, 45, and 61, with the gold Mega Ball being 12.
The Excitement Builds
“There’s always an air of excitement around the country when Mega Millions jackpots soar,” stated Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin, who also serves as the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium. She emphasized the dual benefit of the growing jackpot, providing both entertainment and potential winnings for players while also generating funds for the good causes supported by each lottery. Corbin also reminded players to play responsibly.
The jackpot has been rolling since it was last won in New York on April 18th, making Friday’s drawing the 31st in the current run. The increasing jackpot has also led to a surge in winning tickets at all prize levels. The August 1st drawing alone produced a total of 4,904,910 winning tickets across all prize tiers.
Match 5 Winners
While no one hit the jackpot, seven tickets matched the five white balls, securing the game’s second-tier prize. A ticket sold in Texas is worth $4 million, thanks to the optional Megaplier (available in most states for an extra $1 purchase), which was 4X for this particular drawing. Texas holds the distinction of having had more multi-million second-tier prizes than any other state, having been the first to introduce the Megaplier option in December 2003.
The other Match 5 winning tickets were sold in California (two), Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
In addition, 135 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball, winning the third-tier prize. Twenty-eight of these are worth $40,000 each due to the Megaplier, while the remaining 107 win the standard $10,000 each.
Widespread Winning Tickets
Since the last jackpot win on April 18th, over 31.3 million winning tickets have been awarded at all non-jackpot prize levels, ranging from $2 up to $5 million. This includes 53 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more, won in 23 different states from coast to coast: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
A Year of Jackpots
The year has already seen six jackpot winners in less than four months, a pace more typical of an entire year, highlighting the random nature of lottery drawings. The year began with a significant win – $1.348 billion in Maine on January 13th, the second-largest prize in Mega Millions history. This was followed by three more wins in quick succession: $20 million in New York on January 17th, $33 million in Massachusetts on January 24th, and another $31 million in Massachusetts shortly after. New York then had two more wins, at $483 million on April 14th and $20 million on April 18th, marking the first time in Mega Millions history that two jackpots were won in the same state in consecutive drawings.
Mega Millions stands out as the only lottery game to have awarded four jackpots exceeding $1 billion, one each in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and now it’s on the verge of adding another to the list. Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each, and in most jurisdictions, players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia.
Half of the proceeds from each Mega Millions ticket sale remain in the state where the ticket was sold, supporting designated good causes and retailer commissions.
The top Mega Millions jackpots to date:
| Amount | Date | Winning Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| $1.537 billion | 10/23/2018 | 1-SC |
| $1.348 billion | 1/13/2023 | 1-ME |
| $1.337 billion | 7/29/2022 | 1-IL |
| $1.250 billion (est) | 8/4/2023 | ? |
| $1.050 billion | 1/22/2021 | 1-MI |
| $656 million | 3/30/2012 | 3-IL, KS, MD |
| $648 million | 12/17/2013 | 2-CA, GA |
| $543 million | 7/24/2018 | 1-CA |
| $536 million | 7/8/2016 | 1-IN |
| $533 million | 3/30/2018 | 1-NJ |
Conclusion
So, how much is the Mega Millions now? It stands at a staggering $1.25 billion, making it an incredibly exciting time for lottery players across the country. As the jackpot continues to grow, the anticipation for the next drawing on August 4th is palpable. Remember to play responsibly and dream big! While aiming for that life-changing win, consider the positive impact the Mega Millions has on various state initiatives and good causes. Good luck!
