Did Someone Strike Gold in the $435M Mega Millions?

WASHINGTON — The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an impressive $435 million for the upcoming drawing on Tuesday, marking nearly half-a-billion dollars after a winless stretch since early June.

The last Mega Millions jackpot win was recorded on June 4, when an anonymous player from Illinois claimed a whopping $552 million ($260.2 million after taxes). This year has seen significant lottery wins, including a New Jersey ticket that scored a $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot in March and an Oregon Powerball ticket that took home over $1.3 billion in April.

With the immense prize, potential players should note that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot remain starkly low, at just one in 302,575,350.

For those interested in the latest winning numbers, they were drawn on Tuesday, August 13: 34-55-59-65-70, Mega Ball 12, and a 4x Megaplier. Winners who successfully match all five numbers in addition to the Mega Ball can choose between receiving the full jackpot in annuity payments over 30 years or opting for a smaller lump-sum cash payout. Most winners tend to favor the cash option, while those matching only the first five numbers are assured at least $1 million.

Mega Millions drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, providing players with consistent opportunities to try their luck.

As the game continues to attract players, it’s worthwhile to reflect on the largest jackpots ever won in the U.S. lottery. Notable sums include $2.04 billion from Powerball on November 7, 2022, and $1.76 billion from Powerball on October 11, 2023. The Mega Millions has had its share of record-setting jackpots as well, including one worth $1.58 billion on August 8, 2023.