Today’s Mega Millions Jackpot for 8/9/2024: $398 million
Mega Millions is a lottery game played across the United States, known for its potentially massive jackpots. In the latest drawing, the numbers drawn were: 23, 29, 36, 61, 70, and 22. Currently, the jackpot stands at an impressive $398 million, drawing players from across the nation in hopes of winning big.
History of Mega Millions
Mega Millions, originally known as “The Big Game,” was launched in August 1996. It was created to compete with the Powerball lottery and started with six states participating. The game has undergone several changes over the years, notably in its branding and format. In 2002, it was rebranded to Mega Millions to attract a broader audience.
The format of the game has also evolved. Initially, players picked numbers from smaller pools, but as the game grew, the number selection expanded to increase the odds and generate bigger jackpots. Significant changes occurred in 2013 and again in 2017, adjusting the number of balls to choose from and increasing ticket prices to bolster the starting jackpot and facilitate larger prize pools .
Detailed Rules of Mega Millions
Each Mega Millions ticket costs $2. Players have the option to add the “Megaplier” to their ticket for an additional $1, which multiplies any non-jackpot prizes they might win. Draws are held twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday nights.
When playing Mega Millions, participants select five main numbers from a pool of 70 and one Mega Ball number from a pool of 25.
The jackpot is won when a player’s ticket matches all five main numbers and the Mega Ball. There are also multiple tiers of prizes for matching fewer numbers.
The prizes range from $2 for matching just the Mega Ball, up to $1 million for matching all five main numbers but not the Mega Ball.
If a player opts for the Megaplier feature and wins any prize other than the jackpot, their prize can be multiplied by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times, depending on the multiplier number drawn that evening.
Jackpot winners have the choice between an annuity and a cash option. The annuity provides annual payments over 30 years, with each payment increasing by 5% annually to cover inflation.
The cash option provides a one-time, lump-sum payment that is smaller than the total of the annuity payments but is paid out immediately.
Results and Upcoming Jackpot
In the most recent drawing, which took place on Friday, August 6, 2024, the numbers drawn were 23, 29, 36, 61, and 70 with a Mega Ball number of 22 and a Megaplier of 4x. Although no one won the jackpot, this drawing saw 714,295 winners across various prize levels.
As the jackpot was not claimed, it has rolled over to the next drawing, which is set for Friday. The estimated jackpot for this upcoming draw is now $398 million, with a cash option of $197.9 million.
Largest Wins
Mega Millions has awarded some of the largest lottery jackpots in history:
- $1.602 billion on August 8, 2023 – The record-setting jackpot was won by a ticket purchased in Neptune Beach, Florida.
- $1.537 billion on October 23, 2018 – This massive prize was claimed by an anonymous winner in South Carolina .
- $1.35 billion on January 13, 2023 – A single ticket sold in Maine won this enormous amount.
- $1.34 billion on July 29, 2022 – The jackpot was claimed by a ticket from Illinois .
- $1.13 billion on March 26, 2024 – This large jackpot was won with a ticket from New Jersey.
Recommended