There were no jackpot winners in the Mega Millions drawing held on Tuesday. The grand prize for the upcoming drawing on Friday night is expected to reach approximately $740 million, with a cash option of $366.3 million.
This figure marks the seventh-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever and the 16th-largest in the history of U.S. lottery games. The previous jackpot was won on June 4 when a player from Illinois took home $552 million, making it the ninth-largest win in Mega Millions history.
Two tickets sold in Kansas and Michigan each matched the five white balls, earning the holders a $1 million prize. Additionally, 32 tickets matched four white balls and the Megaball to secure third-tier prizes, including 21 tickets winning $10,000 and 11 tickets claiming $40,000 with the Megaplier.
The winning numbers for Mega Millions on September 3, 2024, were 12, 41, 43, 52, 55, with a Megaball of 9, and a Megaplier of 4x.
Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Players can buy tickets for $2 and have the option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1, which increases the potential prize amounts. To play, participants must select five numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball or opt for a Quick Pick generated by the lottery machine.
Winning just the Mega Ball earns players a $2 prize, while matching all five white balls (excluding California) nets $1 million. Players can participate in Mega Millions across 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with notable exceptions including Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Tickets can be purchased at various retail locations, including gas stations and grocery stores, and some places may also sell tickets at airport terminals. Additionally, players in several states can order tickets online through the Jackpocket app, which facilitates digital lottery entries.
It’s crucial for players to be mindful of state-specific deadlines for purchasing tickets, which can vary significantly, sometimes ranging from 15 minutes to several hours before the drawing.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at a staggering 302,575,350 to 1, while the odds of matching all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1.
Winners of jackpots have the choice between an annuity payout, which is disbursed over time, or a cash option, which offers a lump sum payment but is lower than the advertised jackpot amount. Some states allow players to claim their winnings anonymously, while others require documentation of the winner’s identity.