$321 MILLION: Mega Millions jackpot is red hot

Nov 1, 2014, 1:09 pm (102 comments)

Mega Millions

20th-largest U.S. jackpot of all time

By Todd Northrop

The multi-state Mega Millions lottery game continued its months-long climb Friday night, and is now at the point where jackpot rolls are sharply increased.

After nobody won Friday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $321 million — the largest since a $414 million Mega Millions jackpot was split between two tickets from Florida and Maryland on March 18, 2014.  (See Florida couple, nearly penniless, claim half of $414M lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, May 1, 2014.) 

The lump-sum cash value rose to a massive $194.1 million — the 17th-largest U.S. lottery cash value in history.

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 20 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on August 26 as a $15 million grand prize — it has been more than two months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.

The last big Mega Millions winner was Rick Knudsen, 53, of Calimesa, California, who won a $180 million jackpot in the Aug. 22 Mega Millions drawing.  (See California man claims $180 million lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, Sep. 4, 2014.)

Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.

Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. Occasionally the official jackpot estimate is raised even before the drawing, due to larger-than-expected sales.

In Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers, winning the second prize: 2 from California, 2 from New Jersey, and 1 from New York.  The 2 California second-prize winners will each be awarded prizes of $604,409, and the 3 winners from the other states will receive prizes of $1,00,000 each.

Unfortunately, none of the second-prize winners purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play.  If they had, their prize would have been increased to $2 million, because the Megaplier number drawn was 2.

The Megaplier option is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered with the Megaplier is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.

Another 68 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 4 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $10,000, and 12 were sold in California, where the prize is worth $5,536 this drawing.

The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, October 31, 2014, were 11, 29, 36, 58, and 67, with Mega Ball number 15. The Megaplier number was 2.

Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $37 million from its previous amount of $284 million. The cash value was raised by $22.1 million, from its previous amount of $172 million. 

Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.

The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.

Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 20th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States.  That position may rise before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.

  1. Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  2. Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
  3. Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
  4. Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
  5. Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  6. Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
  7. Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
  8. Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
  9. Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
  10. Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
  11. Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
  12. The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
  13. Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
  14. Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
  15. Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
  16. Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
  17. Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
  18. The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
  19. Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
  20. Mega Millions: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  21. Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
  22. Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
  23. Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 25, 2002 - West Virgina
  24. Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
  25. Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana

For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:

  • Mega Millions: 10
  • Powerball: 13
  • The Big Game: 2

The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002.  The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.

Top 25 cash value jackpots

Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.

Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 17th-largest cash value in U.S. history.

  1. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
  2. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
  3. Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
  4. Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
  5. Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
  6. Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
  7. Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
  8. Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
  9. Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
  10. Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
  11. Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
  12. Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
  13. Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
  14. Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
  15. Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
  16. Mega Millions: $194.4. million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
  17. Mega Millions: $194.1. million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
  18. Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
  19. The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
  20. Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
  21. Powerball: $170.5 million cash, Dec. 25, 2002 ($314.9 million annuity) - West Virginia
  22. Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
  23. Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
  24. Powerball: $165.8 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
  25. Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

noise-gate

Yeah it's hot enough- time to take that baby out of the oven!

LottoMetro's avatarLottoMetro

I think I will participate in this draw. Thanks in advance to everyone who contributed to my pending winfall Wink

Going to be my first Mega Millions purchase of the year!

Goteki54's avatarGoteki54

I'll be sure to send all the members of LP a post card from my new home in Saint Thomas when I win!Thumbs Up

Drenick1's avatarDrenick1

I will do my part and purchase a few tickets, dream until the drawing and then discard my losing tickets the following day.  I will repeat the cycle if nobody wins the jackpot.

Teddi's avatarTeddi

I like that the cash value is at about 60% of the annuity. Lately it's been a lot less than that. I'm loving all these numbers. High jackpot, high CV...and the holidays just around the corner. 

Dance

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Quote: Originally posted by LottoMetro on Nov 1, 2014

I think I will participate in this draw. Thanks in advance to everyone who contributed to my pending winfall Wink

Going to be my first Mega Millions purchase of the year!

Same. I can't even remember the last time I've played Powerball or Mega Millions. I think I might buy a couple of tickets for the next drawing.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Hurray! Here is to a lucky night for a MM player. Like me.  And good luck to all the candidates in the national 

       election  Bash

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Goteki54 on Nov 1, 2014

I'll be sure to send all the members of LP a post card from my new home in Saint Thomas when I win!Thumbs Up

Have you checked the number of registered members lately?  It'll be a lot easier just posting a message at LP, besides you probably don't all their addresses.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by Goteki54 on Nov 1, 2014

I'll be sure to send all the members of LP a post card from my new home in Saint Thomas when I win!Thumbs Up

Just send a check Cheers

mightwin's avatarmightwin

Quote: Originally posted by Drenick1 on Nov 1, 2014

I will do my part and purchase a few tickets, dream until the drawing and then discard my losing tickets the following day.  I will repeat the cycle if nobody wins the jackpot.

Lol........When it gets to this amount, for some reason even though I bought tickets, when I check on my phone I hope nobody wins the jackpot including myself... lol. Maybe its a hope to win a record amount ?? Wink keep it rolling!

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Drenick1 on Nov 1, 2014

I will do my part and purchase a few tickets, dream until the drawing and then discard my losing tickets the following day.  I will repeat the cycle if nobody wins the jackpot.

You should hang on to those losing tickets just in case you win a later drawing and want to claim them as a deduction on your taxes.

JamesMelony

Can't wait for this to keep rolling for a bigger jackpot around the end of the month but I will still throw in a dollar for this round. Also if I do win I will not be claiming it until after the holidays when everyone is fatter and calmer. LOL

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by JamesMelony on Nov 1, 2014

Can't wait for this to keep rolling for a bigger jackpot around the end of the month but I will still throw in a dollar for this round. Also if I do win I will not be claiming it until after the holidays when everyone is fatter and calmer. LOL

I respectfully disagree, why? For this singular reason. Should someone in California win....preferably me* -according to the California lottery it will take 6-8 weeks before l see that cheque. We talking close to Christmas here..nah, sorry..no way!

Drenick1's avatarDrenick1

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Nov 1, 2014

You should hang on to those losing tickets just in case you win a later drawing and want to claim them as a deduction on your taxes.

I spend between $200-$300 on lottery tickets per year so it won't bother me not to claim it if I won. If I was desperate for losing tickets I can always grab a bunch from the trash can at any lottery retailer.

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