The winning numbers in Tuesday night's Mega Millions draw were 7, 18, 21, 31 and 40; the Mega Ball was 9. The jackpot was an estimated $68 million with a cash option of $49.7 million, but did anyone win?
Nobody matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball, so the jackpot will roll over to Friday night's draw when it will be an estimated $82 million with a cash option of $59.9 million.
In Tuesday night's draw, a player who bought their ticket in Oklahoma matched all five numbers and used the Megaplier, which was 4X, to win $4 million. Twenty-five players won $10,000 each by matching four numbers and the Mega Ball. Another five players won $40,000 each by matching the same numbers and using the Megaplier.
More than 440 players won $500 each by matching four numbers, with 93 extra players using the Megaplier to win $2,000 each. Plus, more than 1,200 players won $200 by matching three numbers and the Mega Ball, with 265 players quadrupling their prize to $800 thanks to the Megaplier.
Hundreds of thousands of players won smaller prizes from $2 to $40. More than 48,000 players won $10 by matching three numbers or two numbers plus the Mega Ball, with more than 10,000 winning $40 using the Megaplier.
About 160,000 players matched one number and the Mega Ball and won $4, with more than 34,000 other players using the Megaplier to pocket $16. Finally, almost 360,000 players matched only the Mega Ball, winning $2, with more than 76,000 players winning $8 using the Megaplier.
The Mega Millions lottery is held every Tuesday and Friday so the next draw will take place on February 12, at 11 p.m. ET.
To take part in Friday's draw, buy a ticket from a licensed lottery retailer for $2 per play with the option of adding the Megaplier for an extra $1 per play. Choose five numbers between 1 and 70 for the white balls and one number between 1 and 25 for the gold Mega Ball, or have the lottery terminal randomly select the numbers for you.
Sales cut-off times vary by state, but are typically an hour or two before the draw.
The overall odds of winning any prize in the lottery are 1 in 24. The odds of winning the jackpot, however, are 1 in 302,575,350.
Last month a Michigan player won a Mega Millions jackpot of $1 billion— the second-largest prize in the game's history.
When a player wins the jackpot, they can claim the prize as an annuity, which is paid as one initial sum followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5 percent each year. Alternatively, they may choose the cash option, which is a one-time payment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
