The Mega Millions lottery drawing on Friday night had the potential to unveil a ticket holder of the game’s fifth-largest jackpot, currently standing at an impressive $1.22 billion. The winning numbers drawn were 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, with a Mega Ball of 6.
The jackpot, which has been accumulating since September 13, reset after a fortunate individual in Texas claimed an $810 million prize. Since the last drawing on Christmas Eve did not yield a matching ticket for the full set of winning numbers, interest in the jackpot has surged, prompting more players to purchase tickets as the deadline neared at 10 p.m. ET on Friday.
Players in eight states have the unique advantage of keeping the full amount from a jackpot win since their state governments do not impose taxes on lottery winnings. These states are California, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
A win on Friday night would surpass the previous fifth-largest jackpot of $1.128 billion, claimed just days ago after the drawing on March 26. This winning ticket was purchased at a ShopRite in Neptune Township, New Jersey. Notably, New Jersey allows winners a year to claim their prizes, and the anonymous winner chose to receive the cash equivalent, which is estimated at $537.5 million before taxes.
Winnings of this magnitude are subject to a 37% federal tax and an additional 8% tax in New Jersey. Interestingly, so far in 2024, the Mega Millions has recorded only three winners, marking the fewest jackpot wins in a year since the Big Game transitioned to Mega Millions in 2002.
The Mega Millions game, which spans 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, delivered its highest number of jackpots in 2023, with ten major winnings—a noteworthy achievement after the game underwent significant changes in 2013. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to date remains at $1.602 billion, won by a Florida player in August 2023, although it’s still shy of Powerball’s record jackpot of $2.040 billion from November 2022.
With the excitement of the upcoming drawing and the potential for life-changing winnings, players remain hopeful and eager as they await the next chance to claim an extraordinary jackpot. This ongoing interest in the lottery showcases not only the thrill of the game but also the dreams that accompany the prospect of winning such a staggering amount.