There was no winner for the Mega Millions jackpot in Tuesday’s drawing. The grand prize has now surged to an estimated $740 million, presenting a cash option of $366.3 million for the upcoming drawing on Friday night.
This is the seventh largest Mega Millions jackpot ever recorded and the 16th largest in the history of U.S. lotteries.
The last jackpot was claimed on June 4 by a player from Illinois who won $552 million, making it the ninth largest Mega Millions win.
In other winnings, two tickets sold in Kansas and Michigan each matched five white balls, netting $1 million. Additionally, 32 tickets matched four white balls and the Megaball, leading to various payouts: 21 winning $10,000 and 11 taking home $40,000 with the Megaplier.
The winning numbers for the drawing on September 3, 2024, were 12, 41, 43, 52, 55, and the Megaball was 9. The Megaplier was 4x.
Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. To play, a ticket costs $2, with the option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1, which can multiply winnings. Players must select five numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball, or they can opt for a Quick Pick for randomly generated numbers.
To win a prize, players can receive $2 for matching just the Mega Ball, while matching all five white balls can yield up to $1 million, though California players may see different payouts.
Mega Millions is available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah as the only states without it. Tickets can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores, and some airport terminals also sell lottery tickets. Online orders can be made through the Jackpocket app in several states.
The deadline for purchasing Mega Millions tickets varies by state, generally ranging from 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing. Certain third-party apps may have earlier deadlines, such as Jackpocket in New Jersey, which cuts off sales at 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. drawing.
Winning the Mega Millions jackpot is an exciting prospect, but it’s important to remember that the odds are heavily stacked against players, with a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of winning the jackpot and a 1 in 12,607,306 chance to match all five white balls.
Winners can choose between two payout options: an annuity paid out over time or a lump-sum cash option. Anonymity for winners varies by state; in some places like New Jersey, winners can remain anonymous.
For a comprehensive list of the top Mega Millions jackpots and the largest U.S. lottery jackpots, players are encouraged to check the Mega Millions website and their state lottery resources.