Mega Millions jackpot up to record $1.55B
The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.58bn after no tickets matched all six winning numbers from Friday’s drawing.
Ahead of the next drawing on Tuesday 8 August, the grand prize is only expected to grow as players purchase tickets in the hopes of winning what is now the third-largest jackpot in US history.
To win the jackpot, a player’s ticket must match all six winning numbers. The chances of this happening are exceptionally rare, however, as the odds of finding oneself with a ticket that matches all six numbers are one in 302.6 million.
As for how much money the winner of Tuesday night’s drawing would actually receive, the $1.58bn payout would go to a winner who opts for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. But winning individuals usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday’s jackpot would be an estimated $783.3m. The money would then be subject to federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery winnings.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on Tuesday 8 August at 11pm ET.
For everything to know about tonight’s Mega Millions drawing, follow along with all the latest updates below.
Key Points
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Do you need to be a US citizen to win the lottery?
According to Mega Millions’ website, you do not need to be an American citizen to purchase a lottery ticket, or win a prize.
“Visitors to the United States are always welcome to purchase tickets for our game from an American lottery retailer while they are visiting this country; you do not need to be a resident to win,” the lottery confirms.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 21:58
Can winner of Mega Millions jackpot remain anonymous?
The Mega Millions lottery is played in 45 states, Washington, DC, and the US Virgin Islands.
However, because lottery rules vary state by state, it means there are only some states that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous – while others require individuals to disclose their identity.
Maintaining anonymity is only permitted in 16 US states, including Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming.
Additionally, these states may have their own limitations or restrictions, such as prize thresholds or a limited time period where a person can remain anonymous. For example, the names of those who win $600 or more in the Arizona lottery are confidential for 90 days after the prize has been awarded, and they can choose to remain anonymous if they win $100,000 or more.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 21:00
Do all Mega Millions players win a prize?
If a player has a ticket that matches just the gold Mega Ball, they win $2, which is the cost of each Mega Millions ticket.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 20:25
How do you play the Mega Millions and can you win prizes other than jackpot?
To play the Mega Millions lottery, players can pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers – five different numbers from one to 70 (the white balls) and one number from one to 25 (the gold Mega Ball), according to Mega Millions’ website.
To win the grand prize, players must have a ticket that matches all six numbers drawn.
However, players who don’t win the jackpot can still win smaller prizes, as Mega Millions notes that there are “a total of nine ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, ranging from the jackpot down to $2”.
Players who match all five white balls but not the gold Mega Ball walk away with the second biggest prize of $1m, while players who match four white balls and the gold Mega Ball win $10,000.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 19:45
If the grand prize continues to grow, which it is expected to, it will surpass the previous second-largest lottery jackpot.
The title is currently held by the $1.586bn Powerball jackpot, which was won on 13 January 2016 by tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee.
The largest lottery grand prize ever recorded was won the $2.04bn Powerball jackpot won by a single ticket in California on 7 November 2022.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 19:15
Whether it’s $1bn or $1.58bn, winning a lottery jackpot typically means a life-changing amount of money. However, a previous lottery winner has revealed that there are some things that do not change when you win millions of dollars.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 18:50
What to do if you win the lottery, according to experts
Although the chances of winning the grand prize are slim, there are a few things that lottery players need to know if they do find themselves with a winning ticket.
From keeping the win a secret to whether you should sign a winning ticket, this is what lottery players should consider before making any decisions at all.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 18:29
Ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing, hopeful players have started fantasising about the purchases they would make if they were to win the grand prize.
“Alright y’all I bought my Mega Millions tickets so now I get to live in a delusional fantasy of what I’d do with the money until they draw the numbers,” one person tweeted.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 18:26
On Tuesday, the Mega Millions lottery revealed on its website that the estimated grand prize of $1.55bn had jumped to $1.58bn ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing.
If a winner were to choose the lump-sum cash payment, they would walk away with $783.3m before taxes.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 18:19
When was the last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot?
The current grand prize is the result of 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.
The last time someone won the game’s top prize was 18 April.
Chelsea Ritschel8 August 2023 18:15
