The Mega Millions prizes are the largest ones that the lottery has to offer! So, if it’s huge payouts you’re after, then this is the right lottery for you! The Mega Millions jackpot starts at a staggering $50 million and has risen as high as $1.602 billion! The stories of the biggest Mega Millions winners have made headlines all over the world because the amounts offered by this American lotto game are through the roof.
As exciting as the jackpot is, there is much more to the Mega Millions than the first prize! There are 8 other amazing prize categories available in the game. The Mega Millions second prize is always $1 million, meaning every ticket holder has 2 chances to become a millionaire each draw. Better yet, the Megaplier increases all non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times! With the Multiplier you can turn a $1 million second prize into $10 million!
Mega Millions Prizes FAQ
To win the Mega Millions jackpot, you need to match all the 5 main numbers and the Mega Ball. To win a prize in the Mega Millions lottery, you need to match at least the Mega Ball.
To win a prize in the Mega Millions lottery, you have to match at least the Mega Ball. This will earn you the 9th prize in the Mega Millions, worth $5. If you match the Mega Ball and any of the 5 main numbers, you qualify for the 8th prize category, worth $7.
No, you do not need the Multiplier to win the Mega Millions jackpot. The Mega Millions Multiplier is a randomly assigned number added to every Mega Millions entry, boosting any non-jackpot prize you win by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or even 10x—giving you the chance to win up to $10 million in the second prize tier.
Yes, you need to match the Mega Ball, as well as all the 5 main numbers to win the Mega Millions jackpot. If you only match the 5 main numbers, but not the Mega Ball, you will qualify for the $1 million second prize.
No, matching only one of the main numbers in the Mega Millions does not qualify you for any of the 9 prize categories. However, if you match any 1 of the main numbers and the Mega Ball, you win the 8th prize. The payout is $7.
Yes, if you match the Mega Ball only, you qualify for the 9th prize in the Mega Millions lottery, worth $5.
The Mega Millions Jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot has the largest starting amount in the US. With a first prize worth at least $50 million every single draw, there are no dull times for this lottery! With every rollover, the amount of the prize is increased. This assures a steady increase and after only a few rollovers, the Mega Millions jackpot can reach some very large amounts. This is how it has managed to pass the $1 billion threshold a few times already.
On October 23rd, 2018, it has awarded a huge jackpot worth $1.537 billion, which is one of the largest lottery prizes in world history.
But, this is not all! The Mega Millions jackpot reached the $1 billion threshold once again in January 2021, after a rollover streak of 37 draws. Eventually the winning numbers were matched by a lottery club from Michigan.
More recently, Mega Millions made headlines with a new record jackpot: on August 8, 2023, a single ticket from Florida scooped $1.602 billion!
The Mega Millions Winning Categories
There are 9 winning categories in the Mega Millions lottery, including the jackpot. If there is only one winning ticket for the first prize, the winner collects the entire amount. If there is more than one winning ticket for the jackpot, then the winners will get equal shares of the prize. The rest of the secondary prizes in the Mega Millions are guaranteed at the full amount.
Even if you don’t match all the 5 winning numbers and the MegaBall, there are many more prizes you can win every single time. The second prize in the game is worth a full million, guaranteed. Those who play with the Megaplier can get even more because the multiplier can boost the second prize all the way up to $10 million. In the table below, you can see all the prize categories in the game:
| Prize Divisions | Match | Prize | Winning Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | Jackpot | 1:290,472,336 |
| 2nd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $1,000,000 | 1:12,629,232 |
| 3rd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $10,000 | 1:893,761 |
| 4th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $500 | 1:38,859 |
| 5th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $200 | 1:13,965 |
| 6th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ | $10 | 1:607 |
| 7th Prize | ⚪⚪ + 🔴 | $10 | 1:665 |
| 8th Prize | ⚪ + 🔴 | $7 | 1:86 |
| 9th Prize | 🔴 | $5 | 1:35 |
The Odds of Winning Mega Millions Prizes
Mega Millions winning odds for the 9th prize category, matching the Mega Ball only, are 1:35. Of course, everyone really wants to win the jackpot, but that’s a little harder with the odds set at 1:290,472,336.
Players looking to maximise their chance of winning can always play with an odds boosting Mega Millions syndicate. The important thing to remember is that there are no zeros on this page, that is, people win Mega Millions all the time! As long as you keep playing there’s no reason why you can’t win Mega Millions!
Mega Millions Payouts
If you are one of the lucky Mega Millions jackpot winners, you will have to decide whether to take the cash option or the annuity payment. It’s important to know that all jackpot amounts are quoted according to the annuity payment option. The cash or lump sum option will net a smaller amount. If a winner opts for the annuity option, they will receive their first payment immediately and subsequent payments every year for 29 years. Each annual payment will be 5% larger than the last, providing a hedge against inflation.
Are Mega Millions Prizes Taxed?
States and territories that offer Mega Millions have the right to tax lottery winnings on their own terms. As such, lottery taxes vary from one state to another. The US Federal Government also taxes Mega Millions winnings. Online lottery ticket messenger services are obligated to follow the tax laws of both the US Federal Government and the state in which they purchase tickets. Those who live outside of the US and buy their Mega Millions tickets online may be subject to further taxation in their country of residence. In any case, lottery winners should hire a financial professional to help sort out issues like taxes.
Mega Millions prizes are amazing from top to bottom! No matter where you live, you can take a chance to win a life-changing Mega Millions prize by playing Mega Millions online with lottery messenger service theLotter! Good luck!