Massive jackpot is 7th-largest of all time
By Todd Northrop
For only the 7th time in the history of United States lotteries, a lottery jackpot has grown to $400 million or more.
After 20 drawings without a jackpot winner, the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game now boasts a swelling jackpot that is nearing a half-billion dollars and could instantly put someone among the wealthiest people on the planet.
After nobody won Friday night's grand prize, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $400 million — the largest since the near-record $648 million Mega Millions jackpot drawn on Dec. 17, 2013, and the 7th-largest United States lottery jackpot of all time (see full list below). It is the 3rd-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever.
The lump-sum cash value of $224.8 million is also the 9th-largest on the all-time US lottery jackpot cash value list.
The current jackpot run-up started on January 7 as a $15 million grand prize — it has been over two 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.
In Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Arkansas, 1 from Florida, 2 from Ohio, and 1 from Virginia.
Three of the five second-prize winners purchased their ticket with the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play and will have their prize tripled to $3 millon, because the Megaplier number drawn was 3. The three winning tickets purchased with the Megaplier option were sold in Arkansas, Florida, and Virginia.
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. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
Also, a total of 97 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win a $5,000 prize. Of those tickets, 10 were purchased with the Megaplier option, increasing the prize to $15,000, and 8 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $9,096.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, March 14, 2014, were 7, 20, 40, 54, and 69, with Mega Ball number 12. The Megaplier number was 3.
Following the Friday drawing, the Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was raised $47 million from its previous amount of $353 million. The cash value was raised by $30.8 million, from its previous amount of $194 million.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.
A 44th Mega Millions state may be added later this year, as the state of Wyoming has approved a new state lottery with the intention of joining multi-state lottery games. (See Wyoming officially becomes 44th state with a lottery, Lottery Post, Mar. 14, 2013.)
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
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 7th-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.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $400 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 25, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295 million, Aug. 25, 2001 - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 9
- Powerball: 14
- 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 9th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- 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: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($648 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- 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
- Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $224.8 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($400 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- 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
- Mega Millions: $194.4. million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Powerball: $170.5 million cash, Dec. 25, 2002 ($314.9 million annuity) - West Virginia
- Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
- Powerball: $165.8 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $164.4 million cash, won Oct. 19, 2005 ($340 million annuity) - Oregon
Congrats to the winners... Second tier wins are just as good
Did someone say 400 mil?
Talk about jackpot fatigue. Jesuschrist it only went up 47 million dollars from last draw. Two years ago the jackpot was at a similar amount, I think $366m, and then shot up nearly $300m to the record $656m jackpot. I was thinking two more rolls will reach a billion, but now it looks like it'll take about four rolls to get there.
Yeah jackpot fatigue plus the odds changing I would say. Oh well at least its getting up there.
Winning $400 mil is fine with me. One Billion will attract the attention of the whole world. Every one will want to know who the winner is even if you claim it anonymously
I am available to winning a large, several multi-million dollar net lottery jackpot.
What will I do with 400 million? Let me think...
Everyone back off; this Mega-Millions jackpot is MINE...
7th Largest Jackpot is just fine by me!
Go California! I'd be happy with 2nd place.
At least even just the thought of having it makes everybody happy...
.....and then after somebody wins it, everyone else will be mopey
I'm still holding out, want to see how high it will fly
True, but for now the ticket that we're holding is worth the JP.
the winning ticket for this Tuesday night's MM has just be sold in VA
Who cares!!
He will be the most sought after person, he better know how to hide!!
That is so true..
I think it might be a >she<.
In any case, I'm still happy there was a rollover. I want to see the $1 billion mark. Though at this rate who knows how long it'll take to get there.
Have I told you lately how much I cherish our friendship, good buddy?
It's already been sold in Ohio
Ever since the Mega Millions odds went up from 176 million to 259 million to one, I refuse to buy one. As the odds stands now on the Mega Millions game, it's absolutely ridiculous. I'll stick to the PowerBall game for now, even though the odds are one in 176 million, at least a lot better odds than the Mega Millions game.
Funny how people get all excited and worked up over and play for an annunitized jackpot that nobody ever takes when they win.
Last night two tickets in Ohio missed winning the jackpot by having the wrong megaball, maybe one Ohio ticket will have all the right numbers Tuesday night.
Funny how some players look at the odds of winning the PB and MM jackpots.
The odds of winning the PB jackpot are 1:175,233,510 per $2 ticket with odds of 1:32 of winning a prize.
The odds of winning the MM jackpot are 1:258,890,850 per $1 ticket with odds of 1:15 of winning a prize.
Buying two $1 MM tickets for $2 reduces its odds of winning a jackpot to 1:129,455,425 with odds of 2:15 of winning a prize.
alright its
time for me to win a jackpot
Because larger annuity jackpot means larger lump sum. If the jackpot reaches an amount never before reached, it means the lump sum will be an amount we've never seen before. Hence excitement.
I agree the rollover amount has been disappointing though I really shouldn't be complaining as I only bought $1.
I wonder if it will finally make a triple digit increase should no one win on Tuesday.
Boy let's hope so. Because even with media attention finally on it, I don't see it hitting $500M on the next draw.
Well, not necessarily. The second biggest annuity for U.S. lotteries only had the fourth biggest lump sum.
I'm not excited about the annuity. No, no, no. Bring on the cash!
Woooo!!!!
Good luck on Tuesday everyone!
It's about time.We havent had a winner for quite some time.
Even with the relatively anemic sales recently, it should easily bust $500M if Tuesday's draw rolls. Already Tuesday's will probably be around $425M when finalized. And the draw after that would be in the $610M range. And if that one rolls, it's billion dollar territory after that!
Wouldn't that be funny if MM does do two more rolls, and gets to a billion dollar JP right in the heat of March Madness playoffs Billion dollar bracket challenge.
Yes,true. But what I'm saying is that if the jackpot reaches $1 billion, the cash value will be the largest we've ever seen. Regardless of the less than usual jackpot to lump sum ratio. I can't see a CV of less than $480 million on a billion dollar annuity (if reached in the next 2 weeks) which would break the previous CV record. Hopefully it'll be around the $550 million mark.
I really hope you're right because these rollover amounts haven't gotten the blood pumping so far.
As for the other, two billion dollar games going at the same time would be something to behold.
Id like to see someone making the rounds on late night tv like Jimmy Fallon & at the press conference walk out from behind the curtain on stage wearing that "YES!" shirt and acting that <snip>y after winning a Billion. "YES!" "BRING IT I AIN'T SCARED!" "IT'S MY MONEY AND IM ENJOYING IT RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN MUHAHA!"
A winner like that could have his/her on reality show within a week and make another 100 million if they wanted although id understand heading to your 10 million dollar luxurious top floor glass penthouse right on Miami Beach baby!
Since 99.99999999999999999999% is never going to win the big one the unfulfilled potential action/entertainment has always been in the press conferences. Unfortunately we always get the joe/jane that never goes about it right. They act boring, mumble, lupid giggling, talk timid, talk ignorantly about giving it all away, hide, and generally don't make any sense when they talk. Just for once id like to see someone intelligent and aggressive get up there and tell it like it is with confidence. With that kind of money you don't have to worry about being 100% politically correct at every turn. Dont mence words. Give it to them good and hard. Come at them real. You would be a hero to millions and an a$$ to others but you never get a second chance at a first impression. You know showmanship. You know someone like Arnold Schwartzenegger or Judge Judy. Someone to put some new excitement back in the game! After that i can see an invite from FoxNews. Id request the morning show Fox & Friends. I can see sitting beside Anna Kooiman or Elizabeth Hasselbeck and in casual conversation nonchalantly squeezing one of them on the knee. Can you imagine Brian Kilmeade getting all jealous and stuff?
Then as you walk off the stage wink at the camera's and say "Hey my man Todd! I'll be calling you for an exclusive interview for the home crew at www.lotterypost.com!" My gosh the servers would be overloaded here for years but it would make Todd's day!
Been counting my fingers, but not enough...how does annuity works? JeJeJe...
I would be happy with half of the jackpot if I have to settle with two winners. $50 million big ones is alot of money for me and my mother to spend. Of course so is $100 million big ones too if I am the sole winner. Either one looks good to me and we would be living large.-weshar75
Wake me up when it gets to $700M.
I did not buy my MM ticket yet.
The N.J. Pick 6 is over $8M and The N.J. Pick 5 is now at $633K,
will focus on those two games and only buy one Mega Game.
Now you don't have to be Irish to try your luck on any of the games of chance.
Yes Teddi. I would also like to see it reach a billion dollars. My coworkers think im crazy when I predicted that this year we will see such a jackpot, but im confident we will. Of course I wouldn't mind being the winner of a lesser jackpot if it doesn't reach the one billion mark lol.
Good luck gleno. I like Jersey's pick 5 game. It pays way more than ny's take five. I'll remind myself whenever im in Jersey to play at least ten bux worth of pick 5
Wow. I can't believe anyone would argue against it reaching $1 billion. It's only a matter of time. All we need are some really obscure non-birthday numbers to show up for the next 3-4 draws and we're there.
If you have not set up your trust yet, go and do it now. This jackpot is likely to hit $1billion. That way, if the numbers happen to hit you, it will be fun to waltz into the lottery office, first thing in the morning, validate your ticket and vanish into thin air, with a big a$$ smile on your face.
You can claim by trust in PA but they release your name!
I will set up the trust after I claim, therefore the name of the Trust is not plastered in the news media!
I have my ticket for the first MM Jackpot win in PA LOL!
Yep. Sacrificing player safety and peace of mind for cheap a$$ publicity. That's just too bad.
DP.....if it happens in PA, I hope it's you(mad drummer)....but, I am leaning towards a Texas(only) jackpot win this time. I have the tix and positive thoughts.... Its time !!
As of last year, we can't claim our winnings as a trust in CA.
I heard it takes at least 3-4 weeks before they wire the funds into your bank account so you might have to hide out temporarily until you get your money.
Positive thought is nice but you may also want to write down $400 million on a piece of paper and leave it underneath your pillow...it worked for a lady in California.
Funny thing just happened. I was reading about her story and when I left to come here, then your message just popped up.
Perhaps it's a sign.
I am going to write $400 million on a piece of paper as well and place it under my pillow for the Lottery God Mother. I have never had any positive thoughts about ever winning the lottery which is probably why I haven't won anything over $7.00
That is the least of my problems the world already knows who i am all am waiting for is my red carpet. As for anonymously who ever says i want to be ever anonymously i will actually be in your bedroom everyday via public webcam 24/7 so you can all watch me spend it really good the only thing in my life that will be anonymouse is my public cell phone number that i will personally throw away in the lake thx to walmart $10 prepaid i can get a new phone everyday if you parasites ever make it ring three times yes three times unless its a sweet female voice on the other end that might make me talk something sweet all night but by morning the phone is gone for good . Well i make any sweet thing last longer no matter how dangerous lol.
so for me you can see me everyday via webcam only but you just can't call me or touch me physically i will practically be a night and day ghost . Even invitation by Obama will not be accepted and no news conference allowed too except facebook lol.
I have no idea what's going on here. No really, i am at a lost. What am i missing here?, Oh wait, that's right...EVERYTHING!!!
There's no one won the jackpot goes up again?
I wonder how it feels to win the MM JP?