Is today your lucky day?
The Mega Millions lottery jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing is an estimated $20 million, with a $9 million cash option, according to the Mega Millions website.
The last jackpot win was on December 27, when a California lottery player won $1.269 billion, the fifth-largest millionaire jackpot ever.
12/31/24 What are the winning numbers for Mega Millions?
Here are the Mega Millions winning numbers for Wednesday, December 31, 2024:
13 – 22 – 27 – 29 – 35 and Super Ball 1
Mega multiplier is 2x
Looking for an edge? These Mega Millions numbers have the most winning numbers
Did anyone win last night’s Mega Millions jackpot?
With no one winning the jackpot, Friday night’s drawing is expected to increase to $42 million, with a $18.8 million cash option.
Tickets sold in New Jersey, Florida and Minnesota matched five balls to win the second-level million-dollar prize, according to the Millionaire website.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
More: New Jersey Mega Millions $1M winner knows ‘one day I’m going to win’
How do I play Mega Millions?
Each ticket costs $2, but you can add a Megaplier for $1, which will increase your potential winnings up to five times your original winnings (excluding jackpots).
Each player selects 5 numbers from 1 to 70 as the white ball and one number from 1 to 25 as the super ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate random quick picks for you. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident of the specific state from which you purchased your ticket.
More: ‘It still doesn’t feel real’ – New York man wins $476 million Mega Millions jackpot
How many balls do I need to match to get the Mega Millions prize?
You can win $2 just by purchasing matching Super Balls. If you don’t hit the jackpot, you can win up to $1 million simply by matching all five white balls (except in California). You can view all prize payouts on the Mega Millions website here.
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Where can I buy Mega Millions?
You can play in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. States that do not offer Millionaire are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
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Where can I buy lottery tickets?
You can purchase tickets in person at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order lottery tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in the following U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, place your order, view your tickets and claim your winnings, all from your phone or home computer.
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When is the deadline to purchase Mega Millions tickets?
Deadlines for buying Mega Millions tickets vary by state, so don’t wait until the last minute. It may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more before the actual drawing. For some third-party lottery applications, the deadline may be closer to two hours before the draw. For example, New Jersey’s Jackpocket drawing deadline is 9:15 pm (11 pm ET).
Click here to see the deadlines for where you live.
What are my chances of winning the lottery?
Playing Mega Millions can be exciting, but don’t spend those millions before you win.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350 to 1. The odds of matching all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1.
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What does cash option mean?
The major U.S. lotteries offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.
Annuity options pay out over time. First there are immediate payments, then 29 annual payments, increasing by 5% each year. The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it’s paid out in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades to get all your money.
Can the jackpot winner remain anonymous?
In some states, such as New Jersey, you can win anonymously. That wasn’t always the case, but now winners can remain anonymous under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. In other states, the winner’s name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.
What are the top 10 Mega Millions jackpots?
Here are the top 10 millionaire jackpots of all time:
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$656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
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$648 million, December 17, 2013: two winners in California and Georgia
What is the largest lottery jackpot ever in the United States?
Here are the top jackpots won in the U.S. Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries:
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$1.586 Billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida and Tennessee
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$758.7 million, Powerball, August 23, 2017: Win in Massachusetts
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$687.8 Million, Powerball, October 27, 2018: Two New York-Iowa Winners
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of USA Today Network. Gannett may earn revenue through audience referrals to the Jackpocket service. Must be 18 years or older, 21 years or older in Arizona, 19 years or older in Northeastern states. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800 -GABLER (all others). Please visit jackpocket.com/tos for complete terms and conditions.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Winning Mega Millions Drawing Numbers for Wednesday, December 31, 2024
