Mega Millions
Mega Millions is a US multi-state lottery game run by the Mega Millions Lotteries, a consortium of state lottery operators, under strict regulation. The game began in May 2002 and operates across 45 US states, Washington DC, and the US Virgin Islands.
Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET
5+1 draw (5 from 70, plus 1 from 25)
1 in 24 for any prize
State lottery consortium, established 2002
How the Game Works
Mega Millions requires you to pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one additional Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. The lottery commission draws five regular balls from a drum containing 70 balls, then draws the Mega Ball separately from its drum of 25 balls.
Each ticket costs $2. You win the jackpot by matching all five main numbers and the Mega Ball. Matching fewer numbers puts you into lower prize tiers.
The game uses a fixed prize structure for tiers below the jackpot. The jackpot itself rolls forward if no ticket matches all six numbers, and grows with each drawing until someone wins.
Prize Tiers and Odds
Mega Millions has nine prize tiers:
Tier 1 (Jackpot): Match 5 + Mega Ball. Odds: 1 in 302,575,350. This prize starts at $20 million and increases with each drawing that produces no jackpot winner.
Tier 2: Match 5 main numbers, no Mega Ball. Prize is fixed at $1 million. Odds: 1 in 12,607,306.
Tier 3: Match 4 + Mega Ball. Prize is fixed. Odds: 1 in 931,001.
Tier 4: Match 4 main numbers, no Mega Ball. Prize is fixed. Odds: 1 in 38,792.
Tier 5: Match 3 + Mega Ball. Prize is fixed. Odds: 1 in 14,547.
Tier 6: Match 3 main numbers, no Mega Ball. Prize is fixed. Odds: 1 in 606.
Tier 7: Match 2 + Mega Ball. Prize is fixed. Odds: 1 in 693.
Tier 8: Match 1 + Mega Ball. Prize is fixed at $2. Odds: 1 in 89.
Tier 9: Match Mega Ball only. Prize is fixed at $1. Odds: 1 in 37.
Your overall chance of winning any prize is 1 in 24. This means roughly one in every 24 tickets will return some money across all nine tiers.
Expected Value and the Maths
The expected value (EV) of a $2 Mega Millions ticket depends on the jackpot size. When the jackpot is low, the EV is negative, meaning the game favors the operator. As the jackpot grows through rollovers, the EV approaches breakeven or becomes slightly positive.
However, the jackpot EV calculation assumes you are the sole winner. Jackpots above $200 million often have multiple winners, which splits the prize. This reduces your actual value even when the advertised jackpot appears mathematically attractive.
The fixed-prize tiers (Tiers 2 through 9) have consistent EV that is always negative from a mathematical standpoint. Tiers 8 and 9, which return $2 and $1, recover a small fraction of your ticket cost but at poor odds.
Syndicates do not improve mathematical odds. They improve odds of winning at all by pooling more tickets across more combinations. A 10-person syndicate buying 10 tickets has the same per-person odds as one person buying one ticket, but a 10-fold chance that at least one ticket wins something. Any winnings are divided equally.
Draw Schedule and Results
Mega Millions draws occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM Eastern Time. Results are published within minutes after the draw closes. All participating states release results through their official lottery websites and apps.
You have 180 days from the draw date to claim a prize in most states, though this varies by jurisdiction. Some states allow up to one year.
Tax Treatment
Federal tax withholding on Mega Millions winnings is 24 percent at the point of claim. However, jackpot winners owe federal income tax at rates up to 37 percent depending on their total income that year. This means the final tax bill often exceeds 24 percent.
Eight US states (California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota) impose no state income tax on lottery winnings. The remaining 42 states and Washington DC levy state income tax on prizes, ranging from approximately 2.9 percent to 10.9 percent.
Non-US residents are subject to different withholding rules. You should consult a tax professional in your jurisdiction before claiming.
Lottery payments are made either as a lump-sum cash option or as an annuity spread over 30 annual payments. The annuity option returns roughly 50 to 60 percent of the advertised jackpot as a lump sum; the annuity returns the full advertised amount over time. Most winners choose the lump sum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pick my own numbers or must I use a quick pick?
You can do both. You may choose your own five main numbers and Mega Ball, or the lottery terminal can generate them at random (quick pick). A quick pick has the exact same odds as a hand-picked selection. No number combination is more likely to be drawn than any other.
What happens if I match some numbers but not all?
You win a prize in one of the eight lower tiers (Tiers 2 through 9). All of these prizes are fixed amounts, meaning they do not change based on ticket sales. Only the jackpot changes. Tier 9 (Mega Ball only) returns $1; Tier 8 (one main number plus Mega Ball) returns $2. Higher tiers return increasingly large fixed prizes up to $1 million for matching five main numbers.
How does the jackpot grow?
The jackpot starts at $20 million. If no ticket matches all six numbers on a drawing date, the entire jackpot rolls forward to the next drawing. The new jackpot includes the previous unclaimed jackpot plus sales from the current drawing. This process repeats until someone wins, at which point the jackpot resets to $20 million for the next game.
What are my actual odds of winning the jackpot?
Your odds are 1 in 302,575,350 per ticket. This means you would need to buy a ticket for every possible combination to guarantee a jackpot win. Buying multiple tickets or playing for many years does not meaningfully improve your odds. If 100 million people each buy one ticket, roughly one of them will match the jackpot.
How is the Mega Ball drawn differently from the main numbers?
The five main numbers are drawn from a ball machine containing 70 balls numbered 1 to 70. The Mega Ball is drawn from a separate ball machine containing 25 balls numbered 1 to 25. This separation means the Mega Ball has a one-in-25 chance of matching your pick, while each main number has different odds based on the size of the 70-ball pool.
Are non-US players allowed to win?
Players from some countries outside the US can purchase Mega Millions tickets, but eligibility rules vary by state and country. Prize tax treatment differs for non-US residents. Federal withholding may be higher. You should verify eligibility and tax consequences in your jurisdiction before purchasing.
