Updated with final jackpot amount and cash value
By Todd Northrop
Friday the 13th was the luckiest day in the life of someone in Maine who purchase a lottery ticket that won a staggering $1.348 billion last night.
After a run of 25 drawings without a jackpot winner, the 26th drawing of the multi-state Mega Millions game produced a single $1.348 billion winner last night when one lottery ticket sold in Maine matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball.
The whopping jackpot is the fourth-largest the world has ever seen, and the second-largest in Mega Millions game history.
The winner of the unimaginable haul will choose between being paid $1.348 billion in 30 annually-increasing payments over 29 years or the lump-sum cash value of $723.5 million.
According to USA Mega's Mega Millions Jackpot Analysis, after all taxes are paid, the winner either will receive $754 million by the end of 29 years, or $404.1 million in cash all at once. Maine has a 7.15% state tax rate.
The winning ticket was sold in Lebanon, at Hometown Gas & Grill, according to the Maine State Lottery.
Friday the 13th is a popular date in Mega Millions history — now the seventh time there was a grand prize winner on the superstitious date — but it is the first time a Mega Millions jackpot has been won in the state of Maine.
"Congratulations to the Maine State Lottery, which has just won its first-ever Mega Millions jackpot," Pat McDonald, Ohio lottery director and lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement early Saturday. "We thank all our retailers for their hard work during this spectacular run, and our customers for their enthusiasm and support. I hope the fun and excitement Mega Millions has generated inspires a winning attitude in our daily lives and towards everyone we meet. Here's to a good year!"
Maine has been selling Mega Millions ticket since May 9, 2010.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, January 13, 2023, were 30, 43, 45, 46, and 61, with Mega Ball number 14. The Megaplier was 2.
It's hard to imagine the winner getting much sleep Friday night, as they try to process winning such an unimaginably huge lottery jackpot awarded to a single ticket — the one they're holding in their hand.
Millions of lottery players in the USA and around the world are wondering what they are planning to do with all that loot.
What is the first thing you would do?
The public may or may not find out the identity of the winner, as Maine does not have privacy laws that allow a winner to claim a lottery jackpot anonymously. However, in a 2018 news story Maine Lottery Director of Operations Michael Boardman was quoted, explaining that a winner in Maine could technically remain anonymous by claiming under a trust. "What a winner could do in Maine is they could file their claim in the name of a trust, and the trust becomes the winner. So that's how a winner could claim their ticket anonymously," [Boardman said].
Lottery Post maintains a list of every state's anonymity policies for lottery winners, and Lottery Post published a comprehensive video presentation about each state's anonymity laws.
Fortunately, even if you didn't win the jackpot, the Mega Millions game still offers another 8 ways to win lower-tier prizes.
In addition to the jackpot winner, 14 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 2 from California, 1 from Florida, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Kansas, 1 from Kentucky, 1 from Missouri, 1 from North Carolina, 4 from New York, 1 from Pennsylvania, and 1 from Texas.
None of the second prize-winning tickets were purchased with the Megaplier option for an extra $1, which would have increased their prize to $2 million after being multiplied by the Megaplier number of 2. The two California second prize winners will each claim a prize of $928,260 because unlike all the other Mega Millions states, 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.
164 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Mega Ball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 27 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $20,000, and 26 were sold in California, where the prize was $9,892 this drawing.
In total, more than 7 million tickets won prizes across the game's nine prize tiers in Friday's drawing. Apart from the jackpot, there were $46.5 million in prizes awarded last night.
A complete list of payouts for all prizes and the official drawing video can be found at USA Mega's Mega Millions Drawing Information page, as well as at Lottery Post's Mega Millions Prize Payouts page.
The record-holder for the world's largest lottery jackpot was a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in Nov. 2022, won by a single ticket sold in California. The winner has not yet claimed the prize.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million.
Had no one matched all of the numbers drawn lottery officials said the next jackpot would have reached $1.6 billion.
With the jackpot being won Friday, the next Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate is reset to its starting point of $20 million.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
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
Friday's $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot stands as the fourth-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States — and the world.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maine
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 (22 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 (34 rollovers, starting at $15 million) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $522 million, Jun. 7, 2019 (24 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $516 million, May 21, 2021 (26 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $502 million, Oct. 14, 2022 (21 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Florida
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 (23 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 12
Top 25 cash value jackpots
The Friday Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 6th-largest cash value in world history.
- Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $723.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.348 billion annuity) - Maine
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $349.3 million cash, May 21, 2021 ($516 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $341.7 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $340 million cash, Jun. 7, 2019 ($522 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $320.5 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($543 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $319.9 million cash, Jun. 9, 2020 ($414 million annuity) - Arizona
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 12
Patiently awaiting all of the comments stating that the lottery is rigged.
Rigged......
What should I do then ? DANCE ?
Congrats to the Winner(s)!
musta been a quick pick?
Wow Hometown Gas is 2 miles from my house! Hoping the winner is somebody I know. Congrats to them. They are now the richest and most taxed individual in the state of Maine.
I know, some people actually believe there is such a thing as a lucky state or unlucky state or even a lucky store. Gee, they say store on the state border sells a lot of winning tickets. Or it must be rigged because California has the most winners. These people should be banned from playing.
I'm moving to Maine. I need some luck going forward on the next billion dollar drawing.
Let me guess the winner is an old guy/lady
Hopefully in a few weeks for the Powerball.
"The whopping jackpot is the fourth-largest the world has ever seen, and the second-largest in Mega Millions game history"
Well hmmm.... Looks like the sixth largest and fourth largest to me
"Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
Mega Millions: $724.6 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.35 billion annuity) - Maine"
It was the Altadena California winner who was visiting relatives in Maine before cashing the ticket they bought in California
Congrats to the very lucky winner. This is the very first time I have ever heard of a big jackpot winner from Maine, i'm sure they are excited, especially the friends and relatives.......lol.
Why would you take the cash value and then compare it out of context to a sentence that discusses the annuity ranking?
The annuity ranking is pointless. There are ways to manipulate the annuity rating to anything you want but it is way harder to manipulate the cold hard cash value. (near the end, on this jackpot, the cash value went up but they didn't change the annuity amount on this roll)
There is that old joke about the lottery with the trillion dollar jackpot paid out as a dime a year for ten trillion years if you are missing the point.
Besides the annuity values have a steady percentage increase built in even though they have no idea what inflation will be over 29 or 30 years.
Even the cash value rankings are impacted by inflation but with that they are somewhat easier to compare while adjusting for inflation.
better chance at a state lottery than the big one.
there goes the joe biden number 46.
I'm glad someone from Ca didn't win. Mad that I didn't win. And I hope the winner doesn't claim the prize anonymously!!!
strange,i been copying winners numbers for weeks but then they don't win.the lotteries don't tell if it was a quick pick as they can put a quick pick in any state they want to win.
I am not playing anymore. It's a big scam. Just a waste of my money.
Good luck with that...LOL They've won like ONCE..EVER!
Now the focus is on that $400 million+ PowerBall Jackpot.
It's not scam you should analyze each numbers from recent results then play with math formula.
All drawing games works with specific math formula.
* That's exactly where l am, and the low hanging fruit- aka The State lottery which sits at $7 Mil take home after tax. Either win would do!
* You glad? That statement is definitely not felliniesque.
I have 2 for tonight. I won $20 on MM which helped pay for the extra tickets.
I think it would be cool to win 2 weeks from now since that's my birthday, but I'll take a win anytime.
We went out to dinner early last night and the party at the next table was doing a toast to winning the Mega Millions. They were apparently a part of a lottery pool. I wonder if the Maine winner was actually a group buy.
Congrats to the Lucky winner, enjoy.
"The record-holder for the world's largest lottery jackpot was a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in Nov. 2022, won by a single ticket sold in California. The winner has not yet claimed the prize."
What's the average time taken after a jackpot pick to claim the Powerball jackpot over the last 10 years?
Very suspect that no one has claimed the largest lotto jackpot ever. This was the draw with the super long delay. This story doesn't add up as it stands.
Could it be a scheme by an insider State employee to direct the winnings to their department's spending control?
Remember, California was also the first state to immediately come out the night the draw was supposed to happen and said the drawing was being delayed due to a security issue in another state. IMO, lots of people lost trust in the big two lotteries after that entire fiasco.
Remember, the lotto winner in South Carolina who last won the $1.5 took abt 6 months, nothing strange
I gather it takes a while to write up a will, etc.
Future headline. Winner of 1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot finds misplaced winning ticket in car one week before expiration date.
lottery is so rigged alll that money
PB only went up $12 mil
I guess people spent all their $$ on MM
Wow, Congratulation to the winner! With big jackpots like these I always hope it's a group of people like coworkers or something.
Hi ShagE3 here ... I've visited this site for many years but just became a member so I'm a first time/ longtime. Anyway my question to everybody is this : had the Maine winning ticket been bought in New Hampshire and assuming the holder of the ticket is a Maine resident . . . could he/she get away from paying Maine taxes by simply moving to New Hampshire before claiming the prize? Perhaps one has to set up residence and live a certain amount of time instate like 90 days or 180 days before being official and then claim the prize? What are your thoughts?
"They are now the richest and most taxed individual in the state of Maine. "
No telling whether they'll want it a for themselves or give a lot to charity, but after taxes they could end up with a bit over $400 million. Their tax bill would be higher but they'd still be about $100 million poorer than Stephen King. I didn't bother asking Google, but I think that King is the richest resident of Maine.
"could he/she get away from paying Maine taxes by simply moving to New Hampshire before claiming the prize? "
Yes. The money doesn't become taxable income until claiming it, so a ME resident could move to NH and then claim the prize as a NH resident. King winters in FL but apparently hasn't made that his domicile in order to save on state income tax. No telling where the winner of this jackpot will end up, but they bought the ticket less than 2 miles from the nearest lottery retailer in NH, where the potential savings on state income tax is almost $52 million. I generally figure it doesn't make sense to drive out of your way to buy a ticket but I'd have driven that 4 mile round trip.
"Why would you take the cash value and then compare it out of context to a sentence that discusses the annuity ranking? "
You mean the sentence that says "The whopping jackpot is the fourth-largest the world has ever seen, and the second-largest in Mega Millions game history"? There's absolutely no context in which that sentence discusses the annuity ranking. I understand why the lotteries advertise inflated jackpots that aren't real, but anyone who pays attention knows that virtually all jackpots are paid as cash prizes.
"near the end, on this jackpot, the cash value went up but they didn't change the annuity amount on this roll "
That has now happened several times with MM. Advertising the jackpot as an annuity value that virtually nobody will take is hyperbole, but I'm inclined to think the increased cash values they've been posting might be actual fraud. It just seems wildly unlikely that an updated sales forecast combined with a lower interest rate has coincidentally resulted in no change to the annuity value each time.
It would take another month (around 6th to 15th of February) to reach another $1B+ jackpot if no one wins.
I can wait!
In most states that have state income tax, any income from that state is subject to state income tax regardless of state of residence. Unless the state exempts lottery winnings from state income taxes, there is no way to get out of paying income taxes to that state.
In my state(Louisiana), if a full time resident of the state has to pay state income taxes to another state for some reason, those taxes can be deducted as a non-refundable credit from what Louisiana is requiring the individual to pay. It's probably the same or similar in other states, so there's really no way to get out of paying.
Let me try to clarify .... If I currently live in state A which has an income tax but I buy the winning ticket in state B that has no income tax ..... Could I move to state B .... establish residency and collect my winnings tax free? Another words leave state A move to state B and collect in my new state?
No.
Any other opinions or thoughts? Anybody?