Topline
The Mega Millions jackpot—estimated at $785 million entering its next drawing in 2023—is the fourth-largest total in its history, the lottery said, as it continues to grow since its last winning drawing in October.
Mega Millions’ $785 million jackpot is the fourth-largest in its history.
Key Facts
The $785 million jackpot trails a $1.050 billion jackpot won in January 2021, a $1.337 billion jackpot won in July and an all-time record jackpot of $1.537 billion won in 2018, according to a release Saturday by the lottery.
Despite no jackpot being won since October, 41 tickets have won $1 million or more across 18 states, including one ticket for the December 30 drawing.
The next drawing will be held on January 3, 2023, with a cash option of $395 million estimated for jackpot winnings.
Big Number
2,776,599. That’s the number of winning tickets for the December 30 drawing, with prizes ranging from $2 up to $1 million.
Surprising Fact
A $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in November is the biggest ever recorded, surpassing a mark of $1.59 billion set by the lottery in 2016.
Key Background
The current Mega Millions jackpot has continued to rise since October when two ticketholders from California and Florida shared a $502 million prize. The jackpot suggested its prize could surpass $1 billion in January, asking whether history will repeat itself with another billion-dollar January win. Two people in Illinois claimed Mega Millions’ last billion-dollar prize in September, splitting a $780.5 million pre-tax cash lump sum in the nation’s third-largest jackpot ever. Lottery winners have the option to take the cash lump sum before taxes or take the full prize under a tax payment plan spanning 30 annual payments.
Further Reading
Someone Won The $1.28 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot — Here’s How Much They’ll Take Home After Taxes (Forbes)
