Did anyone win the Mega Millions jackpot?

The rising prize is a result of a winless streak in the lottery game for the past few months. The jackpot was last won in Illinois on June 4 with a ticket valued at $552 million.

For Tuesday's drawing, the cash option was $404.2 million. 

Only two Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year. Before the Illinois winning ticket, a $1.1 billion winning ticket was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings.

Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are conducted at 11 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets are $2 each. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each Mega Millions ticket remains in the state where the ticket was sold.

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.

The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.

Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024

The winning numbers were 1-2-16-24-66, Mega Ball: 6 Megaplier: 4X.

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.

The cash option for Tuesday's drawing is $404.2 million. 

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.

What are the largest US lottery jackpots ever won?