Mega Millions Numbers, Results for 12/24/21: Did Anyone Win $187M Jackpot?

The Mega Millions winning numbers from Friday, December 24, were: 16, 17, 25, 36, 37 and 16 with the Megaplier being 2X.

A massive $187 million Jackpot with a cash option of $134.1 million was ready to be gift-wrapped for this Christmas Eve draw, according to the Mega Millions website.

While there was no one who won the massive jackpot this time around, others were made millionaires overnight.

There were big winners from Michigan and New York who picked up $1 million after matching five numbers with their tickets.

A winning ticket purchased in Texas was able to double their $1 million thanks to the Megaplier 2X being applied.

Meanwhile, there were 13 festive winners who each won $10,000 after they matched four white balls with the gold Mega Ball.

Another 390 winning tickets matched four white balls for $500, and 83 managed to double their money with the Megaplier.

The jackpot has now swelled to $201 million, with a cash option of $144.1 million, for the next draw on Tuesday 12/28/21.

While no one was lucky enough to take home the jackpot, there have been other big winners this year.

All the way back in January, a $1,05 billion prize was won by a group of players from Michigan and in May a five-strong Pennsylvania group won the jackpot and shared the cash option of $254,233,980 after taxes.

A single ticket holder in New York won the jackpot in September where the top prize was an impressive $431 million.

How To Play Mega Millions

Those wanting to take part in the popular Mega Millions need to pay $2 per ticket for the draws that take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET.

For an extra dollar in most states, people can apply the Megaplier option that can increase all non-jackpot prizes between two and five times.

Five white balls, numbered from 1 to 70, are selected at random for each draw and a yellow Mega Ball is then taken from a set that ranges from 1 to 25.

If no one scoops up the jackpot, then the money is added to the top prize for the following draw. When it is finally won, then the top prize goes back to $20 million.

Lucky jackpot winners can select a one-time cash option that is equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions pool or an annuity option where the prize is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments.

People can buy tickets in 45 states, the District of Columbia as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands. But, they cannot be purchased in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

Mega Millions ticket
Mega Millions lottery tickets are sold at a 7-Eleven store in the Loop on January 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Christmas Eve jackpot was $187 million. Scott Olson / Staff/Getty

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