In order to win the Mega Millions jackpot, you will need to match all 5 of the white balls (also known as “numbers”) and the one gold Mega Ball number. The numbers range from 1 to 70 for the white balls and 1 to 25 for the gold Mega Ball.
There are no duplicate numbers, so in total you will need 6 balls to win the Mega Millions jackpot.
How many Mega Millions numbers do you need to win?
In order to win the Mega Millions lottery, you need to match all 6 of the numbers drawn. This requires you to choose 5 numbers between 1 and 70, and one Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. If all of your numbers match, then you win the jackpot.
If only the first 5 numbers match (and not the Mega Ball number), then you can still win other cash prizes. Additionally, there is an optional add-on game called the Megaplier, which can multiply any non-jackpot prizes 2, 3, 4, or 5 times depending on the multiplier drawn.
Do you win anything with only Mega Ball?
No, if you only have the Mega Ball number you won’t win anything. In Mega Millions, the Mega Ball is only one of the five numbers you need to get in order to win the jackpot or any other prizes. You need to match all five numbers (called the “white balls”) plus the Mega Ball in order to win the jackpot.
The Mega Ball is the sixth number drawn and can be from 1 to 25. If you match just the Mega Ball, it will allow you to win a free ticket for the next draw.
What do you win if you have 2 numbers on the Mega Millions?
If you match two numbers in the Mega Millions lottery, the prize you win depends on the number of players who also matched those two numbers, how many Megaplier numbers (an add-on game that multiplies non-jackpot winnings) were selected, and the respective Mega Millions state rules.
Generally speaking, matching two numbers will result in a free Mega Millions ticket for a future drawing, and sometimes a small monetary prize ranging from $2-$3, depending on the state. Additionally, if the Megaplier is selected, the prize will be multiplied up to 5 times its original amount.
However, even with the Megaplier, the prize is not usually lucrative and usually will not exceed $5. Additionally, if the jackpot was won, then the prize for the ticket with two matching numbers will be determined by the annuity option and will be paid over a period of 29 years (30 payments).
It is always important to check your state’s Mega Millions page to better understand the prize structures.
Does 2 numbers and no Mega Ball win anything?
No, 2 numbers and no Mega Ball does not win anything. To win a prize in the Mega Millions lottery, you must match at least three of the five white balls in any order and at least one of the Mega Balls drawn.
Matching two numbers and no Mega Ball will not result in a prize. You must match all five white balls and the Mega Ball to win the jackpot.
What happens if you only get one number in Mega Millions?
If you only get one number in Mega Millions, you do not win the jackpot prize. However, you could still win a prize. In every Mega Millions drawing, there are nine different prize tiers, ranging from the jackpot to $2.
If you match one number, you will win the lowest prize tier of $2. That means you will get a return of $4, which includes the original cost of the ticket. The odds of matching only one number in Mega Millions is 1 in 37.
Does 3 numbers win anything on Mega?
No, 3 numbers do not win anything on Mega. Mega Millions is a lottery game that requires players to pick 5 numbers between 1 and 70, with an additional Mega number between 1 and 25. To win the Mega Millions jackpot, you’ll need to match all 6 numbers exactly.
The Mega Millions smaller prize tiers will pay out for any 3 numbers, or a combination of 3 numbers plus the Mega number, but those prizes are considerably smaller than the jackpot. For example, the minimum prize tier of $2 is won by correctly matching just the Mega number.
The closest prize tier that requires 3 correctly matched numbers, the $10 prize tier, is won by correctly matching 3 numbers but not the Mega number.
Is it better to pick your numbers for Mega Millions?
The decision to pick your own numbers or allow the computer system to generate the numbers for Mega Millions is ultimately up to the individual player. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.
If you pick your own numbers, there is the potential that you could pick numbers that have some sort of special meaning to you—like your wedding anniversary or a combination of lucky numbers. This could be seen as a positive, though it is highly unlikely that your personal numbers will be the winning combination.
If you allow the computer to generate your numbers, the computer uses a random number generator (RNG) which picks numbers that are completely random. While this method does not involve any personalization, it does balance the odds of all players.
This ensures that no single player has an unfair advantage based on picking certain numbers. Additionally, you may still get lucky and match some of the numbers chosen by the computer system.
In the end, it is a personal decision whether to pick your own numbers or allow the computer to generate the numbers. Either way, your chances of getting the winning combination are still incredibly low.
The best you can do is to purchase multiple tickets in hopes of upping your odds.
How does Mega Millions pay out?
Mega Millions payouts happen in two ways: a one time, lump sum cash option and an annuity option. The lump sum payout is a single payment in US dollars which is calculated based on the total estimated jackpot amount.
The annuity option pays out the amount of the jackpot in 30 annual payments, the first of which is the day after the drawing. Each annuity payment will include an increasing amount of interest.
The maximum single lump sum cash payout is capped by law and is currently $734.6 million. The current cash option total is approximately two-thirds of the advertised jackpot.
Mega Millions also pays out a second prize that is given to players who match five out of six numbers. This is a starting prize value of $1 million. If you choose the cash option, you can take the cash amount at the time of the claim, which is currently $560,000.
The minimum Mega Millions jackpot is $40 million, and it grows until the next winning ticket is drawn. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350. However, players can also win prizes for matching some, but not all, of the numbers on their ticket.
What is the most common Mega Ball number?
The most common Mega Ball number drawn since its inception in 2005 is 23. This particular number has been drawn 89 times as of October 2020. To put that into perspective, the second-most common Mega Ball number, 10, has been drawn 81 times.
And the third-most common Mega Ball number, 6, has been drawn 79 times. Interestingly, the most common Mega Ball number of all time, 23, hasn’t been drawn since May 2020, making it the longest gap between draws for any Mega Ball number.
Did anybody win tonight’s Mega Million?
No, there was no winner for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot for the next draw is $145 million with a cash option of approximately $114 million. To win the Mega Millions jackpot, players have to match all five white balls in any order and the Mega Ball.
However, there are other ways to win this game, so even if you don’t match all six tickets, you may walk away with a prize. Players who match only the Mega Ball receive a prize of $2, while those who match five white balls win a minimum of $1 million.