There was no winner for the jackpot in the latest Mega Millions drawing held on Tuesday. As a result, the grand prize for the upcoming drawing on Friday night is estimated to reach $740 million, with a cash option valued at $366.3 million.
This jackpot now ranks as the seventh largest in Mega Millions history and the 16th largest in the entire U.S. lottery landscape. The previous jackpot was claimed on June 4 by a player in Illinois, who won $552 million, a sum that ranks as the ninth largest Mega Millions win.
In this drawing, two tickets sold in Kansas and Michigan successfully matched the five white balls, each winning $1 million. Additionally, 32 tickets matched four white balls along with the Megaball, resulting in 21 winning tickets of $10,000 each and 11 tickets with Megaplier that won $40,000.
The winning numbers for the drawing on September 3 were 12, 41, 43, 52, 55, with a Megaball of 9. The Megaplier amount was 4x.
Mega Millions drawings occur twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Players can enter the game for $2 per ticket, with an option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1, which can multiply winnings up to five times (excluding the jackpot). Players must choose five numbers between 1 and 70 for the white balls and one number between 1 and 25 for the Megaball, or they can opt for a quick pick generated by the lottery machine.
The odds of winning the jackpot stand at 302,575,350 to 1, while the odds of matching all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1. Players are advised to check their state’s lottery rules regarding the purchase deadlines, which can vary, typically ranging from 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing.
Tickets can be purchased at various retail locations or through specific online platforms like Jackpocket in certain states. Winning features, including whether or not winners can remain anonymous, are also determined by state laws, with some states allowing for anonymity under specific regulations.