Biggest Mega Millions jackpot in 5 years
Half-billion jackpot is 9th-largest of all time
By Todd Northrop
Lottery players across the United States will be lining up at lottery retailers for their chance to win Friday's massive $548 million Mega Millions jackpot, after nobody won Tuesday's $470 million grand prize.
The cash value stands at a staggering $309.2 million.
After nobody won Tuesday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to the largest size it has seen in five years. The last time it was this big was on Dec. 17, 2013, when a $636 million jackpot was split by two tickets. The two halves of that jackpot were claimed by Ira Curry of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Steve Tran of Northern California.
Friday's $548 million Mega Millions jackpot is the 3rd-largest in the game's history, and the 9th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time (see full list below).
The lump-sum cash value of $309.2 million is also the 13th-largest on the all-time US lottery jackpot cash value list.
The current jackpot run-up started on July 27 as a $40 million grand prize — it has been over 2 months since Mega Millions has had a jackpot winner.
Lottery players wondering what all the cash will look like in their bank account after federal and state taxes are taken out can see an after-tax analysis of the current Mega Millions jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
The rush of ticket sales over the next few days likely will propel the jackpot to an even higher amount before the drawing takes place Friday. Lottery Post and USA Mega will update the jackpot tallies displayed if such an increase occurs.
In Tuesday 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 California, 1 from Colorado, 1 from Pennsylvania, and 1 from Wisconsin.
The California second-prize winner will be awarded $440,703 instead of the fixed $1 million prize awarded in the other states. By law, California awards all lottery prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold within California and the number of tickets that won at each prize level in the state. This drawing the pari-mutuel prize calculation meant a smaller prize.
Unfortunately, none of the 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 a whopping $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.
Also, a total of 37 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Of those tickets, 5 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $30,000, and 9 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $6,784.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, October 9, 2018, were 20, 22, 39, 54, and 60, with Mega Ball number 18. The Megaplier number was 3.
Following the Tuesday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $78 million from its previous amount of $470 million. The cash value was raised by $43.9 million from its previous amount of $265.3 million.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 44 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 Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 9th-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.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
- 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
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $548 million, Oct. 12, 2018 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 - Florida
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $393 million, Aug. 11, 2017 - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
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 13th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- 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: $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: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- 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: $309.2 million cash, Oct. 12, 2018 ($548 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $281.9 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($451 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $273.9 million cash, Mar. 17, 2018 ($456.7 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- 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
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 14
- Mega Millions: 11
and may the luck of the
be with you
Second Price with Multiplier. If hit the jack fine.
I'm on my way to get my tickets!
It's Mega Millions Time!
Great Post!
Yes! It's about time.
Yes! It is celebration time noise-gate and all LP Members!
$309. Million Cash(take-home of $194,796,000).. hmmmmm...
..... ohhhh the possibilities 
Do you know where you will put all this cash?
I agree with the..."ohhh the possibilities?
l definitely can see donating $50mil to worthy causes over my lifespan, given that it's just the Mrs & l. We certainly can " survive " on $140mil. If we couldn't, we have no business playing the lottery at all.
Not at the moment M, I would leave that to my financial adviser...What I definitely would do is keep $10-15 Million in cash for myself for immediate access, at least $1-2 Million in gold and $1-2 million in silver,some in Palladium..But with that massive amount, I truly wouldn't keep more than $75 Million and give the rest away to charities, family, close friends
I was hoping that the take home would break $200 Mil, but alas, no....
We have to trust our financial advisers. They work with these amounts on a daily basis.
You are generous!
The take-home might reach $200 Mil by Friday night at draw time.
$194,670,000.00 is just fine with me!
WTG Todd et all with all your hard work for the big lottery standings...always my fave.
What do MA, MI, OH, IN and KY all have in common? Nothing for this drawing on my tickets.
Canadian Lotto Max may just save the day.
Did win $1 on KY Cashball 225 though.
Honestly M....WHAT-TA-HECK,would ANYONE in our age range, who is not used to that kind of wealth, reasonably do with more than $75 Million ?.. Guess a plane and super yacht... IMHO those kind of finances should to be shared with people who are in need or who could retire with a $3-5 Million nest egg and help people they know... just a lottery theory, subject to change
Our financial advisers will be able to calculate how much we need. How much to invest to get to that amount.
The Recession word is slowly being talked about. It may be nine months away. I do not like to time the stock market. I am not qualified to time it.
The poor you will always have and you can do good to them at any time. Paraphrasing Jesus.
I hear that Mutual Funds do not go as high as stocks and they do not go as low as stocks. I will definitely need a CPA to do my taxes if I go the mutual funds' route.
When I want to fly I would use a flexjet card. If I do not take a commercial flight.
I had my fill of the Pacific Ocean while in the United States Navy. So, no superyacht for me.
Perfect time to scoop up powerball :-)
The jackpot will be hit either Fri or next week. Guarantee it . So for all the desperate ones so emotional about it. Here ya go.
Would be nice if PB goes up to abt $350mil after tonight.
Yeah I can agree with Friday I don't think it will even make it to next weeks Wed/Friday drawings. Hoping to see multiple winners cant even remember the last time there's been more than 1 in either MM or PB.
Hi Todd
Yeah right, just like the last drawing, no one will buy tickets. No one cares.
Well maybe except for us here at LP lol
Powerball drawing tonight in Urbandale, Iowa, not Talla hassee, FL due to Michael. They were quick to point out the drawing won't be televised....ummmm
Noooooo EnR... single winning ticket sold in TN
So close to you but so far away. Friday night is your time to win.
Maybe John and Lisa Robinson won the single ticket there.
Thank You Bleudog101 for the update.
Hurricane Michael is disrupting a lot of lives in the South.
It puts Lotto in perspective. What is important in our lives.
Well, on another note Beadnose 409 won the Fat Bear week contest up in Alaska !!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/its-officially-fat-bear-week-at-an-alaskan-national-park-—-and-the-2018-winner-has-been-crowned/ss-BBNTCUg?ocid=spartandhp#image=25
paymentplan-man, There are related stories about multiple winners on the Opening Page of this thread. Wells Fargo bank employees recently won as a pool. music*
I always buy 1 ticket for every drawing (Powerball or Mega, whichever is richer), plus the Megaplier or Powerplay option, respectively. Today, in the spirit of the huge jackpot I asked for 4 Megas, each on individual tickets, only I just now realized that I forgot to ask for the Megaplier! I'm going to be kicking myself if I win one of the lower tier prizes without the multiplier. Argh!