Cash value leaps to 5th-largest ever
Update: Top-25 cash value list updated to include current Powerball jackpot; bumps The Big Game off the list
By Todd Northrop
A rush of ticket sales for the half-billion-dollar Mega Millions jackpot has prompted lottery officials to revise their estimate for the Friday night drawing to $540 million.
The all-important lump-sum cash value is now estimated to be a staggering $380 million — propelling it to the fifth-largest cash value offered by any lottery game in US history, and just a few million from becoming the third-largest of all time.
Friday's drawing will be the 35th since Mega Millions had a winner — the longest rollover stretch in the game's history. Since the last winner in March, Mega Million tickets sales have exceeded $1 billion.
Sales prior to the last drawing on Tuesday night also were higher than expected, at around $107 million. Sales were anticipated to hit $80 million.
Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Friday night are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com). State lottery Web sites are normally sluggish or brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.
Mega Millions drawing results will be posted immediately after the 11:00 pm drawing at USA Mega. The number of winners and new jackpot will be announced after all participating states have reported their data, which normally occurs within a few hours after the drawing.
Tickets will remain on sale typically until 10:45 pm Eastern Time on Friday, although players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time. (Every state is different.) Players are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute.
The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 259 million. The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are 1 in 14.7.
Mega Millions tickets cost $1 each. For an extra $1 per ticket players can purchase the Megaplier option, which multiplies any non-jackpot won by up to 5 times, depending on the Megaplier number drawn that evening.
The only state that does not offer the Megaplier is California, because state law banning fixed lottery prize amounts is not compatible with the fixed nature of the Megaplier payouts.
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Mega Millions features nine different prize levels, ranging from $1 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Mega Ball number.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 7th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $540 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- 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
- 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: $321 million, Nov. 4, 2014 - New York
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 13
- Mega Millions: 10
- 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 5th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- 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: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $380 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($540 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- 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
- Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- 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
- Powerball: $201.4 million cash, Jul. 9, 2016 ($288 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
- Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
- Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Powerball: $191.9 million cash, Mar. 2, 2016 ($291.4 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 11
Rock on Mega Millions $540 Million
The Powerball Cash value is at 200M. Why is it not added to the top 25 Cash list?
Thanks to Louis E. for writing to us about the current Powerball cash value being excluded from the cash value list. The cash value list has been updated to include the current Powerball cash value. In a crush to lottery nostalgia, the last Big Game cash value on the top-25 was bumped off. Two annuity Big Game jackpots still appear on the annuity list however.
This marks the first time since I've been tracking the top-25s that two current jackpots appear on the list at the same time. Great for lottery players!
Very nice, everyone out there is starting to get in the game.
I want it
i think most older people are going to the casinos and not playing the lottery so much.
A convenient bet of one dollar could make you hundreds of dollars. I think that most players will take that chance and also go to the casinos.
I see it went up. Still have 32 hours within so this lottery could get to $600 million.
I want to see what everyone has in Maddogs challenge.
It will be. No doubt in my mind.
Twice in the article it says Saturday when it should say Friday.
3 top ten all time jackpots in the first 6-7 months of this year with the possibility of a 4th by the end of next week, this is turning into a record year for PB/MM Mega-Power syndicate.
fwlawrence, Since you live in Austin,Texas you do not have far to cash in your winning ticket.
You could Private Message Todd about the,"Saturday/Friday" mistake.
Good Luck!!
Does anyone remember Mike Pace? The tuxedo wearing announcer for Power Ball. I was not playing then but I have seen him on YouTube videos.
I may have to buy a ticket, I haven't played mega in months. I plan my daily state game (rolling cash)
It will go past 600 already tomorrow.
I'm not too excited about $540 million in the lottery jackpot. With the odds at 1 in 259 million, you can have it. I'll get excited when the lottery jackpot gets to the $1 billion mark. Now, that's something to dream about.
I just have to go down to 6th St. again. However, I am moving back to Ohio at the end of the month. Unless I do win, then I will by a condo in Austin for tax purposes!
Wow. The only thing I miss about Ohio is fall and deer season.
But it is were I grew up. I do have some fond memories.
Except winter.
I get your point. Pretty hard to dream about a measly $540 million jackpot. In the meantime, I will continue to buy tickets as this jackpot marches on.
the list is redundant. the only one that matters is the current one unless you are one of the ones who won one.
I picked up an extra ticket today. We can all only hope.
I think it's quite helpful as it showcases annuity and cash values from previous jackpots. Besides, anyone who won a top 25 jackpot is probably too busy enjoying life to care whether or not a top 25 list is annoying.
i know your jesting larry but the publicity that would entail with a single billion dollar winner would be too overwhelming for anyone to absorb and handle.
Here's hoping that the Jackpot on Friday is won just a little south of there LOL!
i'm sure anyone who won one of the top 25 jackpots isn't on here observing whether they have slipped down a notch on the list. more interesting would be what percentage of winners took the cash rather than listing the amounts over and over again. we know already what the winning amounts were in the past. thus redundant.
explain drenick why is it helpful. if you win one they are going to tell you what the annuity and cash value is for that one and you can't change it. so why do the previous ones matter. the actual amount publicized every time is going to drive sales, not what place it is now in all time. i guess it is somewhat interesting to look at the list but it being "helpful" is a stretch.