The basics
Mega Millions is available in 45 states plus Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM Eastern Time.
How to play
Pick 5 numbers from 1–70 and 1 Mega Ball from 1–25. The five main numbers come from one drum; the Mega Ball from a separate drum. Match all six to win the jackpot.
Prize tiers
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 (no Mega Ball) | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 (no Mega Ball) | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 (no Mega Ball) | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| 0 + Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
The Megaplier
For $1 extra per play, Megaplier multiplies all non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x. The multiplier is randomly drawn before each main drawing. The $1 million second prize becomes $5 million at 5x.
Mega Millions vs Powerball
The two lotteries are broadly similar. Mega Millions has slightly worse jackpot odds (1 in 302 million vs 1 in 292 million for Powerball). Both draw twice weekly. The prize tiers and add-on multipliers are structured similarly. Most players simply play whichever has the larger current jackpot.
The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.602 billion, won in August 2023 by a single ticket in Florida.
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