Record-Breaking Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $627 Million

The Mega Millions jackpot continues to soar, now estimated at $627 million for the upcoming Friday drawing after Tuesday's drawing produced no grand prize winner.

The Mega Millions jackpot has witnessed an astronomical increase, now estimated at a staggering $627 million for the upcoming Friday drawing. Tuesday's drawing, held on August 27, 2024, failed to produce a grand prize winner, propelling the jackpot to the ninth-largest in the game's history.

The winning numbers for Tuesday's draw were 16-18-21-54-65, with a Mega Ball of 05 and a Megaplier of 2x. While no grand prize winner emerged, two fortunate players from South Carolina secured millionaire status by matching the five white balls. One of these winners claimed a $1 million prize, while the other, having purchased the Megaplier, pocketed a $2 million payout.

Record-Breaking Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $627 Million

The Mega Millions jackpot has now crossed the $600 million mark for only the ninth time since its inception in 2002. This astounding figure underscores the game's immense popularity and the allure of its life-changing prizes. Should a single winner claim the entire $627 million jackpot, they would have the option of receiving a cash payout of $309.1 million.

Tuesday's drawing also rewarded a total of 1,202,189 winning tickets, with 30 of those matching four white balls and the Mega Ball to claim the third-tier prize of $10,000. Ten of these third-prize tickets were enhanced to $20,000 each due to the purchased Megaplier.

Record-Breaking Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $627 Million

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery that draws twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Players select five white balls from a set of 70 and one Mega Ball from a set of 25. The jackpot starts at $20 million and grows until there is a winner.

The odds of winning with a $2 ticket are one in 303 million. However, the chances of winning smaller prizes, such as matching four white balls or three white balls and the Mega Ball, are much higher.

Record-Breaking Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $627 Million

The Mega Millions jackpot was last won on June 4, when a player in Illinois matched all six numbers to take home a $560 million prize, which then became the ninth-largest jackpot in the game's history.

Winners of the Mega Millions jackpot typically opt for the cash option over the annuity, which is distributed with one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. The cash option offers the immediate gratification of receiving the entire prize in one lump sum, although it may come with tax implications.

For more information on Mega Millions, including past winning numbers and lottery rules, visit the Mega Millions website. Players can also check their past numbers to ascertain if they have a winning ticket.