Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $1.2 Billion After No Winner In Latest Drawing
Mega Millions Jackpot Hits $1.2 Billion After No Winner In Latest Drawing...
The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.2 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers in Tuesday night's drawing. The winning numbers—12, 24, 36, 48, 60, with a Mega Ball of 5—left players across the U.S. empty-handed, pushing the prize to its fourth-largest amount in the game's history.
The jackpot has been growing since December 26, 2025, when two winners in California and Florida split a $395 million prize. Lottery officials confirmed Wednesday morning that 17 tickets matched five numbers without the Mega Ball, each winning $1 million.
This massive prize is trending nationwide as Americans rush to buy tickets ahead of Friday's next drawing. The jackpot has captured public attention due to its life-changing potential and the rarity of such high stakes. Gas stations and convenience stores reported long lines Wednesday as hopeful players sought their shot at fortune.
The $1.2 billion prize refers to the annuity option paid over 29 years. Most winners opt for the cash payout, which would be approximately $565.8 million before taxes. If claimed in California, Florida, or another state without income tax, the winner could keep significantly more.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the jackpot remain astronomically low at 1 in 302.6 million. Despite this, ticket sales typically spike when jackpots cross the billion-dollar threshold.
Friday's drawing will air at 11 p.m. ET. Players have until 9:45 p.m. in most states to purchase tickets. Lottery officials remind participants to sign their tickets immediately and check numbers carefully, as unclaimed prizes occasionally make headlines months after drawings.
This marks the first billion-dollar lottery jackpot of 2026. The last U.S. lottery prize to exceed $1 billion was a Powerball jackpot won in Michigan on January 1, 2025. That $1.1 billion winner has yet to come forward publicly.
