The Mega Millions lottery regularly makes the headlines with jaw-dropping jackpots! In 2023 one very lucky player turned Billionaire by scooping a USD1.602 Billion jackpot! This is one of the very few largest jackpots ever scooped by a single winner, in the lottery history, anywhere in the World!
On this page, find out how to play Mega Millions: from rules to prizes, learn everything there is to know about this amazing lottery.
How to play Mega Millions? | Megaplier | How to play online? | Benefits of playing online | How to win? | Prizes & Odds | Top jackpots | Taxes | Results | Mega Millions FAQ
How to play Mega Millions?
To play Mega Millions, you need to:
| > Select 5 main numbers, from 1 to 70 |
| > Select 1 additional number, also known as the Mega Ball, from 1 to 25 |
When you have favorite numbers, uou can select your numbers manually of course. However, if you lack inspiration, you can let the lottery terminal pick random numbers for you (when playing online, you can use the Quick Pick option which will select random numbers for you).
On theLotter Australia, you can play MegaLuck. Each time you enter a MegaLuck draw, an official Mega Millions ticket featuring the numbers you have chosen will then be purchased from a licenced retailer. The MegaLuck results, odds and payouts are the same as the ones offered by Mega Millions.
What is the Mega Millions Megaplier?
The Megaplier is Mega Millions’ special multiplier that can increase the secondary prizes you win, up to 5 times! This number is drawn from a separate drum containing 15 balls before the start of the draw. You don’t have to guess it, and it doesn’t affect your odds of winning a prize in any way. All it does is multiply the secondary winnings of the players who ticked this option on their Mega Millions ticket, by 2 to 5 times. Here’s how it works:
| Matching Balls | Prize | X2 | X3 | X4 | X5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪+🔴 | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | USD1 Million | USD2 Million | USD3 Million | USD4 Million | USD5 Million |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪+🔴 | USD10,000 | USD20,000 | USD30,000 | USD40,000 | USD50,000 |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | USD500 | USD1,000 | USD1,500 | USD2,000 | USD2,500 |
| ⚪⚪⚪+🔴 | USD200 | USD400 | USD600 | USD800 | USD1,000 |
| ⚪⚪⚪ | USD10 | USD20 | USD30 | USD40 | USD50 |
| ⚪⚪+🔴 | USD10 | USD20 | USD30 | USD40 | USD50 |
| ⚪+🔴 | USD4 | USD8 | USD12 | USD16 | USD20 |
| 🔴 | USD2 | USD4 | USD6 | USD8 | USD10 |
You should know that the Megaplier number is drawn from a separate drum containing 15 balls. Depending on the number of balls, the odds are greater or lesser for certain numbers.
The Megaplier that has the best chance of coming out is the Megaplier X3 (having 6 balls in the drum), while the one with the least chance of coming out is the Megaplier X5 (having only 1 ball in the drum). See all odds below:
To activate the Mega Millions Megaplier, you need to tick the corresponding box on your Mega Millions ticket. This will slightly increase the price of your ticket, but maybe the chance to win USD5 Million instead of USD1 Million (if you scoop the second prize) is worth it…
If you play on theLotter from Australia, each Mega Luck entry is matched by a Mega Millions ticket. To get Megaplier on the Mega Millions ticket, you need to check the box for the Mega-Extra option on theLotter.com.au.
How to play Mega Millions online?
Great news: you no longer need to fly to the US to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets, you can try your luck at the amazing prizes offered by the Mega Millions lottery online!
Playing Mega Millions online is similar to getting a physical ticket: you have to choose 5 main numbers and an additional one to enter the game.
Time needed: 7 minutes
On theLotter Australia, players are entering a MegaLuck draw for which each entry will be matched by a Mega Millions ticket.
- Select main numbers
Once you decided to play, you will have to choose 5 main numbers, from 1 to 70. This can be done manually or with the help of the Quick Pick option that selects random numbers for the players. - Select Mega Ball number
You also have to choose an additional number at the Mega Millions lottery, called the Mega Ball number, from 1 to 25. - Select (or not) the multiplier
Afterwards, you will have to decide whether you want to play with the multiplier option. If you win a secondary prize, it can increase up to 5 times if you have selected the amazing multiplier option. You can decide to participate in future draws as well with a Multi-Draw or a Subscription - Create your account
Now you will only have to create your account on theLotter Australia. Enter all the requested details and you will be done! This process is free but necessary when you want to play online. - Finalize your purchase
For the last step you need to choose the payment method of your choice and finalize your order. After which, our team of local lottery messenger will purchase official entries that correspond to your order, on your behalf. They will then scan them and upload them on your account before the draw takes place.
theLotter Australia customers are not purchasing lottery tickets or participating in lotteries directly. theLotter Australia uses third-party agents to purchase lottery tickets; customers are purchasing for the opportunity to receive monies equivalent to prize winnings.
The benefits of playing Mega Millions online
The best World Lotteries are at your feet – you can play online! Here are the main advantages of choosing to participate online:
- Play Mega Millions from anywhere! The main advantage of playing Mega Millions online is that you can participate from anywhere, even from the comfort of your house if you so wish. Moreover: you can play at any time of the day, or night!
- Win notifications: With theLotter’s automatic win notifications, you don’t risk missing out on your prize! Once the results are in, the numbers are automatically checked. If you scooped any Mega Luck prize, you will receive a free notification to let you know
How to win Mega Millions?
Match all the numbers (5 main numbers from 1 to 70 + Mega Ball number from 1 to 25) and you will scoop the Jackpot; but this is not the only way to become a millionaire with this lottery. Guess only 5 main numbers and you will get the second prize of USD1 Million (that can become USD5 Million if you ticked the multiplier option on your ticket).
Mega Millions prizes
Mega Millions prizes are all amazing, but the record jackpot of USD1.602 Billion scooped by a single player is quite unbeatable. Unlike European lotteries such as the Eurojackpot or even the biggest European lottery, the EuroMillions, the Mega Millions jackpot has no cap. This means that the jackpot keeps on growing until someone manages to scoop it. This is how it reached this amazing amount!
If you become one of those lucky players that scoop the Mega Millions jackpot, you 2 options for collecting the prize: you can choose to receive the prize in: – a single payment also known as the Cash option. The amount paid out will be less than the declared jackpot – or 30 annual payments, also known as the annuity. You will receive the declared amount in full.
When you win a Mega Luck prize playing on theLotter Australia, you will get the equivalent of the Mega Millions prize for the respective prize division.
However, the Mega Millions lottery is not only about the jackpots. You can also become a millionaire by winning the second prize for instance. It guarantees USD1 Million, but with the Megaplier, it could reach USD5 Million.
| Prize | Matching Balls | Odds of winning | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪+🔴 | 1:302,575,350 | Jackpot |
| 2nd prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | 1:12,607,306 | USD1 Million |
| 3rd prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪+🔴 | 1:931,001 | USD10,000 |
| 4th prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | 1:38,792 | USD500 |
| 5th prize | ⚪⚪⚪+🔴 | 1:14,547 | USD200 |
| 6th prize | ⚪⚪⚪ | 1:606 | USD10 |
| 7th prize | ⚪⚪+🔴 | 1:693 | USD10 |
| 8th prize | ⚪+🔴 | 1:89 | USD4 |
| 9th prize | 🔴 | 1:37 | USD2 |
Top Mega Millions jackpots
Saltines Holdings, LLC
Florida
USD1.602 Billion
August 8, 2023
The jackpot winner stepped forward in late September, almost two months after the win, under the name Saltines Holdings, LLC. This entity opted for a one-time cash payout of $794,248,882.
While Florida law requires LLC owners to be publicly listed, the winner formed the LLC in Delaware, where such details remain private. This strategic move allowed the ticket holder to remain anonymous.
Anonymous winner
South Carolina
USD1.537 Billion
October 23, 2018
In early 2016, the US Powerball lottery set a new world record with a USD1.586 Billion jackpot. Two and a half years later, the Mega Millions almost managed to break this record when the jackpot reached USD1.537 Billion. A player from South Carolina managed to scoop it!
Unfortunately, since the winner chose to remain anonymous, we don’t have any details on him or her. Another 36(!) players became millionaires on that historical draw, having won the second prize.
Anonymous winner
Maine
USD1.348 Billion
January 13, 2022
The winner, who has not been named, claimed their prize via the limited liability company LaKoma Island Investments, LLC. The winner selected the lump-sum payment option of $723,564,144 pre-tax.
The sole winning ticket was bought at Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon, Maine, with the numbers 30-43-45-46-61/14, marking the first time a Mega Millions jackpot has been won in Maine.
Anonymous winner
Illinois
USD1.337 Billion
July 29, 2022
Mega Millions saw a new record jackpot exceeding the $1 Billion mark in 2022! A jackpot worth $1.337 Billion was scooped on July 29, 2022 by a single player from Illinois. After 29 rollovers, the numbers 13-36-45-57-67/ 14 brought luck to this player that purchased his ticket at a Speedway gas station and convenience store in Des Plaines.
The estimated jackpot was of $1.28 Billion at the time of the draw, but it was revised up to $1.337 Billion after a few hours. Sales exceeding predictions as everyone wanted a piece of the cake. We would say that that’s a nice surprise!
The winner has not come to claim his prize, but he has 12 months from the date of the draw to come forward. We hope to learn more about this lucky player but he might chose to remain anonymous as the Lottery of Illinois allows players that win more than $250,000 to remain anonymous if they want.
Unclaimed Yet
New Jersey
USD1.128 Billion
March 26, 2024
Following a succession of rollovers, the Mega Millions jackpot surpassed the USD1 billion threshold on March 26, 2024. The jackpot had been rolling over since December 2023. Shortly after reaching this milestone, the prize was claimed.
The lucky winner ended up scooping USD1.128 Billion. This propelled this winner as the biggest lottery winner in New Jersey!
Wolverine FFL Club syndicate
Мichigan
USD1.05 Billion
January 22, 2021
As a result of a long series of rollovers, the Mega Millions jackpot managed, in January 2021, for the second time in history to overcome the USD1 Billion bar. Once that happened, the jackpot was quickly scooped.
After 2 months, we learnt that the lucky ticket belonged to the Wolverine FFL Club syndicate, which consisted of 4 lucky people. They decided to take the lump sum payment option, and after paying taxes, they received USD557 Million. Lawyer Kurt Panuses took the prize on behalf of the syndicate.
Mega Millions taxes
Mega Millions lottery winnings are taxed.: US federal taxes are deducted from the amount owed to the players before the prize is paid out.
The Mega Millions tax percentage depends on 2 main aspects:
🔵 the amount scooped
🔵 the US state in which you purchased your Mega Millions ticket
Indeed, the federal tax depends on the amount you win. If you win under USD600, you don’t have to pay any federal tax. Otherwise, you have to pay between 24 and 30 % of federal tax, depending on whether you live: in the States or not. See below:
You will also have to pay statal taxes. Statal taxes vary in function of the State in which the Mega Millions ticket was purchased (up to 10.9%). If you do not live in the United States, you may have to add a local tax depending on the laws on lottery winnings, where you live.
We strongly encourage players to check with a financial advisor all about the tax laws in their country of residence before claiming a large prize.
Mega Millions results
Did your ticket take part in the last draw? Check out the Mega Millions results below and see if fortune has smiled upon you! If all 5 of your main numbers, as well as the Mega ball, match the ones in the draw, you have become a multimillionaire! You will also win big by matching only 5 main numbers. Note that you can win a prize by simply guessing the number of the Mega Ball!
Please note that your ticket is only valid for the draw with the date printed on it. Therefore, be sure to compare these dates when checking the Mega Millions results.
10 latest Mega Millions results
Mega Millions FAQ
Yes you can! Playing Mega Millions online is not only fast but also easy. Make sure to choose a safe & secure platform of lottery couriers such as theLotter.
Then, choose your 5 main numbers from 1 to 70, as well as one additional number known as the “Mega Ball” from 1 to 25. If all numbers match, you will win the jackpot!
Note that when playing from Australia, you will be entering a MegaLuck draw and for which MegaLuck entry, theLotter will purchase via third parties a Mega Millions ticket, matching the numbers you have chosen on your MegaLuck slip.
You will become the winner of the Mega Millions jackpot if you match both the 5 main numbers and the additional number (Mega Ball) of the draw. If you manage to match only 5 main numbers, you will win the second prize worth USD1 Million.
Mega Millions draws are held on Wednesday & Saturday, at 23:00 EST.
The Megaplier is a game option, specific to the Mega Millions lottery, that can increase your secondary winnings by 2 to 5 times. To activate this option, you need to tick the appropriate box on your ticket. This will slightly increase its price.
For Australian players entering MegaLuck draws, the multiplier’s name is Mega-Extra.
The Mega Millions jackpot has no upper limit. In other words, it will continue to grow until someone manages to guess all the right numbers. The record amount of this amazing lottery reached USD1.602 Billion, on August 8, 2023. It was scooped by a single ticket purchased in Florida.