$1.05 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot Up for Grabs Again: Here's What You Need to Know

A $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot will once again be up for grabs on Tuesday night, giving lottery players a chance to break a series of unlucky streaks for several months. Since April, when a ticket purchaser in New York successfully matched all six numbers to win a $20 million prize, the jackpot has been slowly rising. According to a Mega Millions lottery news release, 46 players have won second-tier rewards of $1 million or more since the previous jackpot was won.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 302.6 million, so the drought is the product of both unlucky circumstances and terrible luck. The chances of winning smaller rewards, between $1 million and $2 million, are significantly higher.
The $1.05 billion prize is for a single winner who chooses to receive annual payments over 30 years through an annuity. A single winner who chooses a lump sum payment would collect $527.9 million. Lottery winners would also be subject to federal taxes, and many states tax lottery winnings.
Here are the largest Mega Millions jackpots:
$1.537 billion (October 23, 2018)
$1.348 billion (January 13, 2023)
$1.337 billion (July 29, 2022)
$1.1 billion (estimated) (August 1, 2023)
$1.05 billion (January 22, 2021)
$656 million (March 30, 2012)
$648 million (December 17, 2013)
$543 million (July 24, 2018)
$536 million (July 8, 2016)
$533 million (March 30, 2018)
According to USA Mega, which analyzes Mega Millions data, the most common Mega Millions numbers for the first five numbers are 17, 10, 14, 31, and 4. The most frequently occurring Mega Ball number is 22. The largest Mega Millions jackpot in history was $1.537 billion in 2018, which was won by a lucky winner in South Carolina.
In addition to 45 states, Mega Millions is accessible in Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Island. Tickets are $2, and there are nine different ways to win. The drawings take place at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Meta Intro: $1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot will be up for grabs, giving lottery players the chance to break a months-long string of bad luck and a chance to win.