(WJW) — “What a difference a year makes!” That’s what lottery officials are saying after the Mega Millions jackpot rolled over yet again Tuesday night.
This time last year, the Mega Millions jackpot had already been hit four different times, with payouts reaching $1.348 billion, $20 million, $31 million, and $33 million. But so far this year, there’s not been a single jackpot winner.
Surprising? Not really.
The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize is 1 in 24, but your chances of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350 (though some argue there are ways to increase your odds).
Without a winner in Tuesday’s drawing, Mega Millions officials now estimate the jackpot at $687 million, with a cash option of $332.3 million — though after taxes, a winner would take home much less.
At its current size, the jackpot ranks as the sixth-largest in Mega Millions history, coming in behind a $1.05 billion prize won by a ticket in Michigan in 2021. Here are the 10 largest jackpots in the game’s history:
- $1.602 billion: August 8, 2023 (Florida)
- $1.537 billion: Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
- $1.348 billion: Jan. 13, 2023 (Maine)
- $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
- $1.050 billion: Jan. 22, 2021 (Michigan)
- $687 million: (estimated ahead of Friday’s drawing)
- $656 million: Mar. 30, 2012 (Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland)
- $648 million: Dec. 17, 2013 (California and Georgia)
- $543 million: July 24, 2018 (California)
- $536 million: July 8, 2016 (Indiana)
Regardless of how daunting the odds may seem, the Mega Millions jackpot will eventually be won. The next drawing is Friday, March 8 at 11 p.m. ET.
If you’re feeling lucky, (and are looking for a game with slightly better odds), you may also want to pick up a Powerball ticket. The next drawing is Wednesday, March 6, at 10:50 p.m. ET. That jackpot sits at an estimated $485 million, which is more than $200 million shy of being among the 10 largest in Powerball history.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are slightly better than the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot at 1 in 292,201,338.
Tickets for Mega Millions and Powerball are $2 each.