Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
One lucky player in Florida matched all six numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing to win the estimated $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot, ending a stretch of lottery futility that had stretched for nearly four months.
Lottery officials announced that the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday night will have a top prize of an estimated $1.58 billion, making it the largest jackpot the lottery has ever awarded. Tuesday’s drawing had a cash option of $783.3 million, according to Mega Millions.
The jackpot has been on the rise since spring, when a $20 million prize was won in Syracuse, New York, on April 18. Five other Mega Millions jackpots have been won this year, including a $1.348 billion haul in January, which at the time was the second-largest prize in the lottery game’s history.
It was not immediately released where in Florida the winning ticket was sold. The final jackpot prize was also not immediately known.
Mega Millions winning numbers for August 8
The winning numbers from Tuesday’s drawing were 32, 19, 13, 33, and 20. The Mega Ball was 14 and the Megaplier was 2X.
How to play Mega Millions
Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play. There are nine total ways to win a prize.
To play, pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. You can choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.
MEGA MILLIONS NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Commonly drawn numbers could help you win Aug. 8
What is the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with “2X,” three with “4X” and one with “5X.”
What is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
Here’s where the other record-holders stand:
- $1.58 billion from one winning ticket in Florida in August 2023.
- $1.537 billion from one winning ticket in South Carolina in October 2018.
- $1.348 billion from one winning ticket in Maine in January 2023.
- $1.337 billion from one winning ticket in Illinois in July 2022.
- $1.05 billion from one winning ticket in Michigan in January 2021.
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Contributing: John Connolly, NorthJersey.com; The Associated Press
