Half-billion dollar jackpot is 11th-largest in US lottery history
By Todd Northrop
What better way to chill out a scorching summer than with a cool mountain of cash?
After 22 drawings without a jackpot winner, the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game now boasts a swelling jackpot of nearly a half-billion dollars that could instantly put someone among the wealthiest people on the planet.
When nobody won Friday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $493 million — the largest since a $533 million Mega Millions jackpot from the March 30 drawing was claimed by a New Jersey man. (See NJ man claims $533 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, Apr. 13, 2018.)
The next Mega Millions drawing is on Tuesday night at 11:00 pm Eastern Time (8:00 pm Pacific).
Tuesday's $493 million Mega Millions jackpot is the 5th-largest in the game's history, and the 11th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time (see full list below).
The lump-sum cash value of $296 million is the 12th-largest on the all-time US lottery jackpot cash value list.
The current jackpot run-up started on May 8 as a $40 million grand prize — it has been more than 2 months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.
Lottery players wondering what all the cash will look like in their bank account after federal and state taxes are taken out can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
The rush of ticket sales over the next few days likely will propel the jackpot to an even higher amount before the drawing takes place Tuesday. Lottery Post and USA Mega will update the jackpot tallies displayed if such an increase occurs.
In Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Illinois and 1 from Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, neither 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 lottery 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.
Also, a total of 47 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 5 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $20,000, and 7 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $10,206.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, July 20, 2018, were 1, 14, 30, 44, and 62, with Mega Ball number 1. The Megaplier number was 2.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $60 million from its previous amount of $433 million. The cash value was raised by $36 million from its previous amount of $260 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 $2 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 11th-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.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $493 million, Jul. 24, 2018 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 - Florida
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
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 12th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $296 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($493 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $281.9 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($451 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $273.9 million cash, Mar. 17, 2018 ($456.7 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
Is that correct 22 draws?
How much does anyone want to bet the next lottery winner is in NJ, PA, DE, or midwest?
It will border $500 by Tues afternoon and sales will go through the roof.
You posted a couple of days ago it would not roll over $500 Million and would be won.
$296 Million Cash minus the Swamps cut of 37%.............$186 Million and change..........Yeah,,,,I can live with that.
Lol and that two people would split the jackpot.
Lol Original Bey it is easy to be psychic. Just post constantly changing facts and scenarios. You can also say you had the winning jp numbers but posted the wrong ones by accident in the challenges. Also constantly make vague claims about "seeing something." Lol
Come on Mega Millions I am counting on you to set a new record for Mega Millions. The old one was set on March 30, 2012. $656 million. We can do it!
It is too bad that Puerto Ricans do not play MM. But right now they have more important things on their minds like survival and recovering from a Hurricane.
I am sure that the media will be talking about this jackpot. The more players the merrier we are.
Who would you tell first when you match all the numbers Tuesday night? Your Mom? Spouse? Psychiatrist? a Divorce lawyer?
oh that is easy.....my German Shepherd... He would look at me with the head tilt to the left and then to the right wondering if he was getting a treat or going for a ride. If I told the Mrs (AKA the War Dept.) she would instantly become the Mayor of Nutbagville
I forgot to add, My Boss.
I am sure that you must have plans for your German Shephard like better food, dog house, etc.
Your Mrs. will love you forever.
I would tell my 100yr old grandmother. She still play the lottery.
Looks like we've reached Record Setting Territory once again!
I knew it would roll once I seen 1 as the leading number, and 1 as the Mega Ball for July 20th drawing. I'm sitting out for Tuesday's draw. I hope it rolls.
EnReval, How sweet of you to think of your grandmother first. Cherish her as some here no longer have grandmothers. They may be grandmothers themselves.
Good Luck to you!
What better way to chill out a scorching summer? I will settle for this picture.
Replace Walter & Skylar White with me & the Mrs looking at that pile of money- in any storage locker.
* How about them dream apples?