The Mega Millions jackpot is making headlines again! After the drawing on Tuesday, August 1st, failed to produce a grand prize winner, the jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.25 billion ($625.3 million cash value) for the drawing on Friday, August 4th. This massive amount positions it as the fourth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.
“There’s always an air of excitement around the country when Mega Millions jackpots soar,” stated Gretchen Corbin, Georgia Lottery President and CEO and the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium. She further added, “The growing jackpot is a source of entertainment and winnings for players while generating important dollars for the good causes supported by each lottery. We are grateful for our players, appreciate our hardworking retailers, and remind everyone to play responsibly.”
The jackpot has been growing since it was last won in New York on April 18th. The upcoming drawing will be the 31st in the current run. The drawing on August 1st also produced a large number of winning tickets at other prize levels, with a total of 4,904,910 winning tickets across all prize tiers.
Winning Tickets Across the Nation
While no one matched all six numbers (8, 24, 30, 45, and 61, plus the Mega Ball 12), several tickets came close. Seven tickets matched five white balls, winning the game’s second-tier prize. A ticket sold in Texas is worth $4 million because it included the optional Megaplier (4X for this drawing).
The other Match 5 winning tickets were sold in California (two), Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Additionally, 135 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball, securing the third-tier prize. 28 of those tickets are worth $40,000 each thanks to the Megaplier, while the remaining 107 win the standard $10,000 each.
Since April 18th, there have been over 31.3 million winning tickets at all non-jackpot prize levels, with prizes ranging from $2 up to $5 million. Included in this impressive number are 53 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more, won in 23 different states.
A Year of Big Wins
2023 has already seen a number of significant Mega Millions wins. The year began with six jackpot winners in less than four months, a pace much faster than usual.
The first big win was a $1.348 billion jackpot won in Maine on January 13th, marking the second-largest prize in Mega Millions history.
Generic image of a winning lottery ticket. Alt text: generic winning ticket mega millions
That win was quickly followed by a $20 million win in New York on January 17th, a $33 million win in Massachusetts on January 24th and then another jackpot win in Massachusetts just two drawings later, this time at $31 million. New York then had two more wins, with $483 million won on April 14th followed by $20 million on April 18th. This marked the first time in Mega Millions history that two jackpots have been won in the same state in consecutive drawings.
Top Mega Millions Jackpots to Date
Mega Millions stands out as the only lottery game that has awarded four jackpots exceeding $1 billion – one each in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Here’s a look at the top Mega Millions jackpots:
| 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 |
How to Play and Where to Buy Tickets
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each. In most jurisdictions, players can add the Megaplier for an extra $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lottery balls with Mega Millions logo and numbers. Alt text: mega millions lottery balls numbers
Remember that half of the proceeds from each ticket sale stay in the state where the ticket was sold, supporting good causes and retailer commissions. As the jackpot climbs to $1.25 billion, excitement builds across the nation.
Don’t miss your chance to win! Get your Mega Millions ticket before the drawing on Friday, August 4th.
