10th-largest US jackpot of all time
By Todd Northrop
This holiday season someone will be able to afford gifts unlike any they have ever given before, as the multi-state Mega Millions lottery jackpot is soaring to historic levels.
After nobody won Friday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $344 million — the largest since the record-setting $656 million jackpot set on March 30, 2012, and the 10th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time (see full list below).
The lump-sum cash value also rose to a knee-weakening $184 million.
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is the accumulation of 19 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner. The current jackpot run-up started on October 4 as a $12 million grand prize — it has been more than two months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs. Occasionally the official jackpot estimate is raised even before the drawing, due to larger-than-expected sales.
In Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Illinois, 1 from Michigan, 1 from Ohio, and 1 from Washington.
Unfortunately, none of the four 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 $3 million, because the Megaplier number drawn was 3.
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 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 77 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 9 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $5,220.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, December 6, 2013, were 11, 29, 44, 63, and 64, with Mega Ball number 3. The Megaplier number was 3.
Ineterestingly, it is the second drawing in a row in which both the Mega Ball and Megaplier were 3. In fact, the Mega Ball number has been a 3 in three of the last four drawings.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $47 million from its previous amount of $297 million. The cash value was raised by $25.1 million, from its previous amount of $158.9 million.
The official jackpot estimates for Friday's drawing were raised prior to the drawing due to stronger-than-expected sales. (See $297 MILLION: Mega Millions jackpot raised again before tonight's drawing, Lottery Post, Dec. 6, 2013.)
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.
A 44th Mega Millions state may be added in early 2014, as the state of Wyoming has approved a new state lottery with the intention of joining multi-state lottery games. (See Wyoming officially becomes 44th state with a lottery, Lottery Post, Mar. 14, 2013.)
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 10th-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.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Mega Millions: $344 million, Dec. 10, 2013 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 26, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295 million, Aug. 25, 2001 - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $294 million, Jul. 2, 2004 - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $276.3 million, Mar. 15, 2008 - West Virgina
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 9
- Powerball: 14
- The Big Game: 2
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
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 15th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- 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: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- 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
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $194.4. million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $184 million cash, Dec. 10, 2013 ($344 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
- Powerball: $166 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $164.4 million cash, won Oct. 19, 2005 ($340 million annuity) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $164 million cash, Feb. 28, 2006 ($270 million annuity) - Ohio
- Powerball: $161.5 million cash, July 29, 1998 ($295.7 million annuity) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $156.1 million cash, Sept. 16, 2005 ($258 million annuity) - New Jersey
About $110,000,000 after Federal Redistribution!
I'll take it!
Good luck to all LP Members ..............
What is the Deal with These People Not Spending the extra ONE DOLLAR for MEGA PLAY???? Congrats to them but COME ON!!!!! Remember people, the jackpot odds are through the roof, so it makes sense to hedge for the maximum amount second/third/fourth place prize. Get it together people!!! hahahaha
The reason being that the majority of those people are simply playing for the jackpot and not the lowerprices. They want two chances at the jackpot insgead of one chance at it for the same price. For a second prize of 2 to 5 millions most people prefer to play the state lottery which has way better odds at winning those amounts. Hope that helped.
Hear Hear!!!!!
the annuity part sounds good to me
If it gets to $900 million plus, would you opt for annuity or cash payout????
Ya gotta be in it to win it!
Looks like now the jackpot would have to be near a billion for the cash option to have an attempt to take the top spot
This one is going to keep growing.
110 Mil +, After Feds cut".…....
Anyone got a ballpark idea of how much money you would make a month
on simple interest?? I've run out fingers and toes to count on.
YES SLICK!!!! The chances of winning are next to impossible, but someone has to win, mathematics and the law of Physics insists on this!!!! Gotta to be in it. Good luck to you for a second prize winner x 5 multiplier. Jackpot already assigned to me by the Universe:
Good luck everyone. .......I'm in it to win itl
Smart players always play MM with megaplier.
$344M after 19 draws?. Sorry guys, not growing fast enough. Maybe it's JP fatigue. I thought by now, it should be somewhere near $650M. Yaaaaaawn.
The first 5 drawings in the current jackpot run were under the old rules, using the old starting jackpot amount. So the new rules show that the Mega Millions jackpot can once again grow hugely, but is not an accurate representation of how many rolls it should take to get there.
I think it's safe to say that there will always be larger jackpots in the very end, but it'll take longer to win. Picking numbers 1 to 75 is a bit of a chore!
The guy running our work pool usually asks for 2$. This time i gave him 10$ to cover the next 5 draws. He told me to think positive.
Pools are a good thing. For years I have had a few guys I work with in a pool. I use to run big group lotterys at work, but I just have 1 or 2 now. Think positive are good words RedStang.
No, it doesn't make sense at all to pay for Mega Play. The expected value is absolutely terrible. I realize this is the lottery after all and tickets basically never have a postive expected value, but spending that extra dollar on another ticket will give you a much better payout potential than spending it on a Mega Play. Most of the expected payout in big lottery games comes from the jackpot, not the lower prizes. Of course, the best expected outcome would be not spending that dollar or any dollars on lottery tickets and investing it instead. But I assume we're hear to have fun, so spend your $2 on two tickets, not one with a Mega Play.
No, the megaplier gives terrible expected payout (as though lottery odds were good to begin with). The idea of a "smart lottery player" is also a bit of an oxymoron.
$1+ billion January 7th.
Seasons Greetings Schmuckatelly,
I'm gonna go with $1+ billion on Christmas Eve..........for a very Merry Christmas.
Dreamer,
If an annuity was going to pay out $30 million to $40 million a year, then I think I'd actually consider taking the annuity. I may not do it but I would definitely stop and think about it.
Because even though I expect taxes on that kind of income to increase and I usually hate the idea of payments spread out over so many years, with the cash value is so low and the annuity payments so large, you could end up equalling the cash value in less than 15 years. Plus 30 million a year is enough to live off of...very very well, and also b able to invest enough to make a good chunk from interest payments. Definitely an interesting thought.
So you consider yourself a losing winner, or a winning loser for playing the lottery or you just love to whine?. I forgot, you never spend money to play the lottery, you just play on paper for fun. I hope you are not one of those clerks, that show up here and tell us that they found winning tickets in the trash bin, because they are real morons. Consider this cruel kindness. Here's to oxymorons
Good Post Teddi...My line of thinking precisely. I find it quite hilarious when i hear people churp at the idea of walking away with an even $20mil a year basically for LIFE (29 years). With the same investment approach, one could easily recapture the initial cash amount in 10-15 years as you pointed out. Plus the added bonus of not becoming one of the statistics that end up broke in 3-5 years. At this level ($344 mil) it would be about 12 million a year which might not be enough to offset the difference, but even that's a GREAT deal. Longevity is the key and for some strange reason, so many people go broke so quickly after winning. And its not just poor spending...Look at Lehman, look at Madoff, look at Stanford. Well intentioned investors can easily be wiped out even if you're quite prudent. Something worth considering I propose.
lol 20 mill a year to start the ball rolling upto 100m a year at the end of 30 years
You also have to consider interest rates are near all time lows and nearly any economist or investor knows that low rates will not be here forever. The headline jackpot assumes investing risk-free at the current rate level. Rates are expected to rise over the next few years. Taking annuity right now is not prudent (including, as you said, current tax levels and seemingly the only way we will solve our deficits will include some raising of taxes)
I hear you Toronto but not so sure i'm with you 100% on this one. I understand that current low interest rates are responsible for a larger cash payout now. Which one would be inclined to capitalize one. But doesn't your argument goes both ways? That if interest rates WILL eventually go up and taxes fluctuate...Dems vs Reps in power, then one will have a fair opportunity to invest much of that $30 million each year and receive reasonable if not very attractive returns? And remember, we're not just talking about gaining a few percentage on investments here and there, i'm talking about GUARANTEED lucrative income for 29 years. Income that can and would serve to buffer market gyrations.
I agree, too many numbers to choose from. Players may have become disinterested.
I've got odds that even if someone wins, the check wouldn't be cut til next year.
Personally after seeing the odds and the amount of low end winners in my state (PA), I'll stick to the one dollar play . It only takes a dollar to win the jackpot and the lower prizes just don't have enough incentive.
I guestimate it to hit when its around the 600 million marker. (between two to three states will hit it)
Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.
I am boycotting by spending $1 per draw. With these astronomical odds I rather spend my money on Florida Lottery Games such as Fantasy 5, Mega Money and Lotto which have better odds.
Like I said, I'm not a fan of annuities. I think that generally they are a rip off. Espcially since they are weighted for you to get more in the last few years than on the front end. But let's just say the JP reaches a point where you can actually take home $30M per year, and the CV is somewhere around 50%, those 2 factors would give me pause.
Simply something to consider since my usual way of thinking is never to take the annuity.
and the fact that $20 mill a year would be like wining the lotto every year anyhow. if you managed to save say %10 l a year of that and invest it, after the 30 years, yu would prob still be taking in 20 mill for ever.
My point EXACTLY goose man. One would basically be winning the pot EVERY YEAR!!!!
I see four cheats got 5+0 on this one.
Christmas jackpot
Well, I hope you notified the authorities.
They probably had cheat sheets.
I think the record cash value was fairly close to $475 million. Based on that, the current annuity value will need to reach about $888 million to tie the record.
656 = 888. There's some lottery math for you. If this run gets within 25% of setting a new record lottery officials will be hoarse from screaming about the new record they set.
Wow, that's such a ridiculous amount of money. I think I'd opt for the annunity!! I think that would be around $30M per year for 30-yrs.
Not cheat sheets, cheat codes.
With a $900M annuity, you wouldn't see the first gross $30M+ payment until 2030 (technically, 2031). Of course the average payment over the course of the annuity would be $30M, but the first gross payment would be less than $14M.
The annuity would have to be nearly $2 billion to see a gross $30M payment upfront.
Oh okay. Still lots of money eh, Metro? Would you take the cash or annuity?