USA Mega Millions
Mega Millions is one of America's biggest multi-state lotteries, famous for its massive jackpots and record-breaking wins. The game traces its history to 1996 and became known as Mega Millions in 2002.
In April 2025, Mega Millions introduced a new format with bigger starting jackpots, improved overall odds and a built-in multiplier on every play.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| First Draw | 6 September 1996 |
| Number Selection | 5 numbers from 1–70 + 1 Mega Ball from 1–24 |
| Draw Schedule | Tuesday and Friday |
| Minimum Match to Win | Mega Ball only |
| Starting Jackpot | US$50 Million |
| Overall Odds of Winning | Approximately 1 in 23 |
| Biggest Jackpot | US$1.602 Billion – 8 August 2023 |
How to Play
Choose 5 Main Numbers from 1 to 70 plus 1 Mega Ball from 1 to 24.
Match all five Main Numbers plus the Mega Ball to win the jackpot. There are also eight other ways to win, starting from matching the Mega Ball alone.
Every Mega Millions play now automatically comes with a random 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X multiplier, giving every non-jackpot prize the chance to be worth considerably more.
9 Ways to Win
| Prize Divisions | Matching Numbers | Prize with Multiplier* |
|---|---|---|
| Division 1 - JACKPOT | 5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot |
| Division 2 | 5 Main Numbers | US$2 Million – US$10 Million |
| Division 3 | 4 + Mega Ball | US$20,000 – US$100,000 |
| Division 4 | 4 Main Numbers | US$1,000 – US$5,000 |
| Division 5 | 3 + Mega Ball | US$400 – US$2,000 |
| Division 6 | 3 Main Numbers | US$20 – US$100 |
| Division 7 | 2 + Mega Ball | US$20 – US$100 |
| Division 8 | 1 + Mega Ball | US$14 – US$70 |
| Division 9 | Mega Ball only | US$10 – US$50 |
*Every play is randomly assigned a built-in 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X multiplier, which automatically determines the final non-jackpot prize.
Built-In Multiplier
Unlike the previous Mega Millions format, there is no longer a separate optional Megaplier.
Every play automatically receives a random multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X. This means even matching only the Mega Ball can win between US$10 and US$50, while matching all five Main Numbers can win as much as US$10 Million without hitting the jackpot.
Top 10 Record-Breaking Mega Millions Jackpots
| Rank | Jackpot | Draw Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$1.602 Billion | 8 Aug 2023 |
| 2 | US$1.537 Billion | 23 Oct 2018 |
| 3 | US$1.348 Billionn | 13 Jan 2023 |
| 4 | US$1.337 Billion | 29 Jul 2022 |
| 5 | US$1.22 Billion | 27 Dec 2024 |
| 6 | US$1.128 Billion | 26 Mar 2024 |
| 7 | US$1.050 Billion | 22 Jan 2021 |
| 8 | US$983 Million | 14 Nov 2025 |
| 9 | US$810 Million | 10 Sep 2024 |
| 10 | US$803 Million | 28 Jul 2026 |
The record US$1.602 Billion jackpot was won by a single ticket in Florida in August 2023. More recently, a Florida ticket won US$803 Million on 28 July 2026, making it the tenth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in the game's history.