NEW YORK — The three-month winless streak continued Tuesday night for the $619 million Mega Millions jackpot.
If there had been a winner, it would have been the 10th largest jackpot won in the lottery game's history.
The last time someone took home a Mega Millions jackpot the Sept. 10 drawing. A winner in Texas matched all 6 numbers to win the $810 million jackpot.
Despite another jackpot going unwon, four lottery players are waking up as fresh millionaires Wednesday. Two tickets sold in California, one in Maryland and one in Florida had all five white ball numbers correct, earning their owners a million dollars. The Florida ticket buyer also bought the more expensive "Megaplier" option, meaning that ticket is actually worth $5 million.
Only three Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year including a $1.1 billion winning ticket that was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings. The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.
The odds of winning the jackpot are one in more than 302 million. The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.
It will soon get more expensive to play: Lottery officials announced it will cost $5 to play Mega Millions, beginning in April 2025, up from the current $2 per ticket. The price increase will be one of many changes to Mega Millions that officials said will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts.
Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
The winning numbers in Friday's drawing were 12-14-26-48-52 Mega Ball: 21 Megaplier: 5.
When a winner matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball, they have the option to take the full jackpot paid out as an annuity over 30 years, or a smaller lump sum cash payout. Winners almost always take the cash option.
Players who match only the first five numbers win at least $1 million.
What time is the Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
Largest Mega Millions jackpots in history
- $1.602 billion - August 8, 2023 - Florida
- $1.537 billion - October 23, 2018 - South Carolina
- $1.348 billion - January 13, 2023 - Maine
- $1.337 billion - July 29, 2022 - Illinois
- $1.128 billion - March 26, 2024 - New Jersey
- $1.050 billion - January 22, 2021 - Michigan
- $810 million - September 10, 2024 - Texas
- $656 million - March 30, 2012 - Kansas/Illinois/Maryland
- $648 million - December 17, 2013 - California/Georgia
- Est. $619 million - December 10, 2024
- $552 million - June 4, 2024 - Illinois
