Biggest cash value jackpot in history
By Todd Northrop
After rolling over for the 17th consecutive time last night, the Mega Millions jackpot has been raised to a jaw-dropping $356 million for the Tuesday, March 27, drawing.
Tuesday's Grand Prize is the 5th-largest lottery jackpot of all time, but the drawing's most impressive distinction is it's cash value of $255.1 million. That's the lump-sum cash amount the winning ticket will payout if the winner chooses to receive the prize all at once. And that number is now the largest cash payout ever offered — a full $15 million more than the previous record holder (a $240 million Mega Millions payout in January, 2011, for a $380 milllion annuity jackpot).
The mammoth prize to be offered Tuesday is the result of 17 draws without a winner. The run-up started as a $12 million prize on Jan. 27.
The winning numbers for Friday, March 23, 2012 were 6, 17, 19, 20, and 21, with Mega Ball number 20. The Megaplier number was 4.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Tuesday, 39 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $250,000 prize: 1 from Arkansas, 7 from California, 1 from Georgia, 1 from Idaho, 5 from Illinois, 2 from Louisiana, 2 from Maryland, 1 from Massachusetts, 1 from Missouri, 2 from New Hampshire, 3 from New Jersey, 6 from New York, 1 from Oklahoma, 1 from Pennsylvania, 1 from South Dakota, 1 from Texas, 1 from Washington, and 2 from Wisconsin.
The 7 California winners will each be awarded prizes of $259,268, because California awards all prizes in a pari-mutuel formula, which calculates the prize amount based on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners in each prize category. In the last Mega Millions drawing the prize formula resulted in a lower prize than normal, but this drawing the second-prize winners will receive more than the fixed prize offered in all the other states.
This is the second Mega Millions drawing in a row to avoid a jackpot winner despite drawing all "birthday numbers". Since one of the most popular ways to play the lottery is to pick numbers based on birthdays of family members, lottery drawings containing all low numbers normally produce many winners.
Perhaps one "anomoly" that helped the jackpot to roll over was the fact that the Mega Ball number drawn, 20, was the same as one of the first five numbers. While that is perfectly acceptible (the Mega Ball is drawn from a different pool of numbers from the first five numbers), casual players are often not aware of that possibility, and avoid picking a Mega Ball number that is the same as one of the first five numbers. When the jackpot swells, there are an influx of casual players buying tickets.
The winning numbers for Friday's Mega Millions lottery drawing will be published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) right after the drawing takes place at 11:00 PM Eastern Time.
USA Mega is one of the few lottery Web sites with a robust technology backbone that keeps it running strong, even when massive player traffic melts down other state lottery Web sites.
The site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Lottery players who want to see the Friday's Mega Millions after-tax jackpot amount for both the annuity and cash value can visit USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page, which calculates the tax withholdings for every state that offers Mega Millions.
USA Mega is the originator of the Jackpot Analysis feature.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 5th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing Tuesday night, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
If nobody wins Tuesday, it's anyone's guess how high it will go.
- 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: $356 million, Mar. 27, 2012 (preliminary estimate, not won yet)
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- 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
- Mega Millions: $275 million, Feb. 22, 2008 - Georgia
- Mega Millions: $270 million, Feb. 28, 2006 - Ohio
- Mega Millions: $266 million, May 4, 2010 - California
- Mega Millions: $265 million, Apr. 18, 2006 - Ohio
- Powerball: $261.6 million, Jun. 2, 2010 - Ohio
- Powerball: $261.3 million, Jul. 9, 2003 - Missouri, Pennsylvania
- Powerball: $259.9 million, Aug. 19, 2009 - South Carolina
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 12
- Powerball: 11
- 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 20 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a ticket could be worth.
The list of top cash value jackpots has a new Number 1 entry — the Mega Millions cash jackpot for Tuesday, March 27, 2012.
- Mega Millions: $255.1 million cash, Mar. 27, 2012 ($356 million annuity) - preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- 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
- 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
- Mega Millions: $153.3 million cash, Dec. 27, 2011 ($208 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $151.7 million cash, Nov. 2, 2011 ($254.2 million annuity) - Connecticut
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 20, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 13
- Powerball: 6
- The Big Game: 1
I'll take it all in a lump sum please.
What is the customary tip for $255 million? 
With this kind of winnings, relocation is pretty much a given even if you are able to remain anonymous. After I take advantage of Texas' limited publicity through multiple legal entities, I'd be relocating to a beach front villa in the Caribbean until hurricane season.... Got to go some place to chill for a bit and let reality sink in.
I'm not sure how much reality sinks in while sunning on a Caribbean beach.
My guess is that it will take a couple months to get legal entities all set up with tax ID and such, scrub your personal info from the internet, etc. I believe I read that it takes either 2 or 4 days for electronic transfer after claiming in Texas. I'd be curious to know of the bank will hold access to that transfer. LOL, I can see it now, "what do you mean you won't give me access to my $200 million deposit?!?" Darn banks. Stay away from the big banks initially. Your money is really their money.
OK, I'm done thinking the process through. Good luck to everyone on Tuesday! I'm off to the gym and picking up tickets on my way.
4 days worth of sales before the next draw, if it doesn't make it to $400 million I will be surprised. But that really doesn't matter because the cash option amount is good enough now.............
Anyone know where I can find info about winners that were quick picks compared to winners that chose their numbers? because the last 2 drawing, I have a hard time believing anyone would choose those combo's. If someone were to win either of the last 2 they would HAVE to be QP's no?
I can't play
All we have is a Powerball that charges $2.00 per ticket
No matter what part of Florida I lived in I would be taking a road trip to Georgia........lol
Just take a ride to another state...If you dont have a car thumb a ride..
With millions playing, I think anything is possible as far as how people choose their numbers. It might not be birthdays, could be numbers
representing any range of personal meanings such as hunch's, lucky numbers, athletic achievements, etc. Why would they have to be QP's?
Ok, WHAT am I missing? Why is the cash value so HIGH ? The Jackpot is 356 mil, how is the cash vaule MORE than the winning Jackpot of 390 mil ????
My first guess is LOW interest rates - means it take more money for cash value to annuitize to the jackpot amount, thus taking a higher cash value.
Holy Moly that is A LOT of cash. WOW
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!
If no one wins tuesday i think it will go well over $400 Million
I say it don't mean a thing unless you got that winning ticket...doo wop doo wop doo wop doo wop! But to that end, I have been so hard hit by this administrations policies that I am ALL in for the next drawing. I am going to play $50 in QP and another $50 of my own picks. I predict just like TW will be getting that W at Bay Hill this weekend, I will be collecting a nice lump sum of cash the first week of April (well I will need a few days to consult with my legal team and interview some accountants!). And I want to truly thank ALL serious and even the casual lottery players as well as those who only jump in when the jackpot exceeds a certain value in ADVANCE for funding my "live how I want to, where I want to" lifestyle fund. You will notice I didn't use or say the "R" word as I think that is the kiss of death.
A couple more rolls and MM will have accomplished with a $1 ticket what PB was hoping to do with a $2 one.
Powerball lol, there was another winner on Wednesday....that average jackpot won is gettin lower and lower lol
GOD DO NOT LET ME WIN THIS MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT. I wish to win a second prize. It will have less impact in my life.
1 QUICK PICK TICKET.
GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY .
About a $166,000,000 wire transfer for me in Pennsylvania!
No State or Local taxes here !
Woo Hoo ........... 1 winner please ..............
Wow $100 in tickets i was debating whether i should spend the $3 i have one $3 Qp or 3 $1 Qp
Good Luck with your numbers
there is no way to claim a jackpot this amount anonymous.the lottery commission and the media will be investigating who won as soon as the jackpot is hit. the only thing you can do is wait about 5 or more months or until another jackpot is hit to form a trust and then claim ticket.that's what I would do anyway.
That is my point. I do not want to deal with all the attention. It will change my current life, and I do not want that. I love the job that I do etc. Winning a lottery jackpot will change all that.
Better you or somebody else in lotterypost than me.
My dream is to win a MM or PB second prize, that is the reason I play.
My estimate MM jackpot will be $405 million by the time of drawing, then it will rise by $115 million to $520 for next rollover. Any objections ?
Knowing yourself and your situation is fabulous! I agree, this kind of win would change not just your LIFE but also your WORLD. Of necessity it would be a huge roller coaster ride for a while. Form trusts, travel/hide, move, change name... and still you would be hunted. You would become the world's most favorite "big game".
Wow - put that way? I'm in! I will, in a self-sacrificing move, put myself forward as the target of this media-rage/frenzy, thus saving everyone else. Whew, now I feel better - I have found a way to save the world w/o even saving the cheerleader.
I wish you win it all. I might not play at all. They should allow players to claim it anonymously.Good Luck to you, may your wish come true.
The media would have a fun time following this winner around.
I'm hoping for multiple jackpot winners. With me included in that group...
..
Yep. Heck even a measly 6 million dollar win on 3/14 was investigated by the clerks at my local Publix Grocery Store (where the ticket was bought). The ticket was bought back in January and they had gone back on the security cameras and knew exactly who bought the winning ticket. Turns out it was a man who bought it but a woman claimed the prize. LOL...she must have sent him to get milk and her winning lotto tickets (she played the same numbers for years).
As far as claiming in a trust that usually does no good at sheilding your identity because they also list the beneficiary of the trust.