Mega Millions Surpasses $1 Billion, Ranks High in US Lottery Jackpots' History
In the weekly Mega Millions lottery game, the jackpot eluded players during the latest Friday night draw, marking the 29th consecutive occasion without a winner matching the six correct numbers.
Following the massive $1.08 billion jackpot won during the July 19 game in Los Angeles, Mega Millions is gradually escalating its own impressive prize. With no winners for the top prize, the pot rolled over for the Tuesday night drawing.
The estimated jackpot for the upcoming August 1 Mega Millions draw stands at a staggering $1.05 billion, with a one-time payment option worth $527.9 million. The likelihood of a single ticket matching all six numbers is a daunting one in over 302.5 million.
Mega Millions has reached over $1 billion just five times in its history, which dates back to its 1996 launch as "The Big Game."
The most recent jackpot has been unclaimed since it was last won by a New York player on April 18.
Second-Half 2023 Slowdown
The first half of 2023 saw a series of life-altering Mega Millions jackpots being claimed. An astounding six Mega Millions winners overcame the overwhelming odds in just four months - a frequency that's usually indicative of a full year.
2023 began triumphantly for Mega Millions, as a ticket purchased in Maine won the groundbreaking $1.35 billion jackpot on January 13. The game's next draw saw a player in New York match the six winning numbers, taking home the considerably more modest $20 million jackpot.
Two drawings later, the Mega Millions jackpot was won again, this time granting a $33 million prize to a player in Massachusetts. The trend continued with another $31 million jackpot won by a Massachusetts-based player on January 24.
Two New York players then struck it rich, scoring $483 million and $20 million, respectively, in the April 14 and April 18 drawings.
Now in its 101st day without a jackpot win, Mega Millions officials maintain that more than 26.4 million tickets earned some form of prize outside of the jackpot. These prizes ranged in value from $2 to $5 million.
The Fifth $1B Jackpot
Powerball holds the record for the largest annuity-paid award in US lottery history at $2 billion. However, Mega Millions has the distinction of having given out four jackpots worth more than $1 billion. These Colombian lottery jackpots occurred in 2018, 2021, 2022, and in January of this year. The game is set to award its fifth $1 billion prize in the August 1 drawing.
The forthcoming $1.05 billion jackpot rank among the top 10 largest in US lottery history.
Top 10 US Lottery Jackpots
- $2.04B - Powerball - November 7, 2022
- $1.586B - Powerball - January 13, 2016
- $1.537B - Mega Millions - October 23, 2018
- $1.35B - Mega Millions - January 13, 2023
- $1.337B - Mega Millions - July 29, 2022
- $1.08B - Powerball - July 19, 2023
- $1.05B - Mega Millions - January 22, 2021
- $1.05B - Mega Millions - TBD
- $768.4M - Powerball - March 27, 2019
- $758.7M - Powerball - August 23, 2017
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Source: www.casino.org
