In Mega Millions, you can win a prize by matching as few as one number. Here’s a breakdown of the minimum numbers you need to match to win various prizes:
- Jackpot: All 5 white balls + the Mega Ball (6 numbers total)
- Second Prize: All 5 white balls (5 numbers)
- Third Prize: 4 white balls + the Mega Ball (5 numbers)
- Fourth Prize: 4 white balls (4 numbers)
- Fifth Prize: 3 white balls + the Mega Ball (4 numbers)
- Sixth Prize: 3 white balls (3 numbers)
- Seventh Prize: 2 white balls + the Mega Ball (3 numbers)
- Eighth Prize: 1 white ball + the Mega Ball (2 numbers)
- Ninth Prize: Just the Mega Ball (1 number)
So, at minimum, you need to match only the Mega Ball to win the smallest prize of $2 (which essentially recoups the cost of your ticket).
Remember, the more numbers you match, the higher the prize. The specific prize amounts for each tier can vary based on the number of winners and the current jackpot size, except for the fixed prizes in the lower tiers.
What are the different ways to win Mega Millions?
There are nine different ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, corresponding to the different possible number combinations you can match. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each winning combination:
- Jackpot: Match all 5 white balls + Mega Ball. Prize: Jackpot (starts at $20 million, grows until won)
- Second Prize: Match all 5 white balls (no Mega Ball) Prize: $1,000,000
- Third Prize: Match 4 white balls + Mega Ball Prize: $10,000
- Fourth Prize: Match 4 white balls (no Mega Ball) Prize: $500
- Fifth Prize: Match 3 white balls + Mega Ball Prize: $200
- Sixth Prize: Match 3 white balls (no Mega Ball) Prize: $10
- Seventh Prize: Match 2 white balls + Mega Ball Prize: $10
- Eighth Prize: Match 1 white ball + Mega Ball Prize: $4
- Ninth Prize: Match only the Mega Ball Prize: $2
Remember that if you add the Megaplier option (for an extra $1 per play), you can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. The Megaplier is randomly selected before each drawing.
These prize tiers are designed to provide multiple ways to win, even if you don’t match all the numbers. However, the odds of winning decrease significantly for the larger prizes, with the jackpot being the most difficult to win.
How much is the mega million?
The Mega Millions jackpot varies from drawing to drawing, as it grows when no one wins the jackpot and resets when someone does win.
Here’s what I can tell you about how the Mega Millions jackpot works:
- Starting amount: The jackpot starts at a minimum of $20 million.
- Roll-over: If no one wins the jackpot in a drawing, the prize money rolls over to the next drawing, increasing the jackpot.
- No cap: There’s no cap on how high the jackpot can grow.
- Record: The highest Mega Millions jackpot in history was $1.537 billion, won on October 23, 2018.
To get the current Mega Millions jackpot amount, you would need to check one of these sources:
- The official Mega Millions website
- Your local lottery retailer
- Local news or lottery results broadcasts
Remember, the jackpot amount can change rapidly, especially when it grows to a large sum, as more people tend to buy tickets, increasing the likelihood of a win.
