Mega Millions Reaches a Near Record-Breaking Jackpot

Ahead of the next drawing on Tuesday, August 1, the Mega Millions lottery jackpot now stands at $1.05 billion, with a lump-sum payment estimated to be $528 million before taxes. That's tied for the fourth-highest prize in the game’s history. 

The jackpot climbed to the near record-breaking sum after no ticket was drawn matching all six numbers in Friday night's jackpot of $940 million. It has been steadily growing since April, after 29 straight draws. The last winning ticket in the game was sold on April 18.

As it stands, the current Mega Millions jackpot is tied with a $1.05 billion from a single winning ticket sold in Michigan in January 2021. If no winner is chosen on Tuesday, the jackpot will surpass that to become the fourth largest in the history of the lottery game.

The record highest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.537 billion from a winning ticket sold in South Carolina in October 2018, followed by a $1.348 billion won in Maine in just earlier this year in January and $1.337 billion sold in Illinois in July 2022.

Mega Millions is now offered in 45 states as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Although there are several ways of winning a prize ranging from $2 to the jackpot, taking the big prize requires matching five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. 

If a winner isn't chosen on Tuesday and the pot continues to climb, the hype will likely only continue to snowball until a winner is finally chosen. For anyone hoping to take a shot at the big jackpot, may the odds be ever in your favor.