Trenton, New Jersey – A single winning ticket was sold in New Jersey for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions jackpot, valued at an estimated $1.13 billion. This win marks the fifth-largest jackpot in the history of the game, with the winning numbers being 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, and Mega Ball 4.
The Mega Millions game had gone over three months without a jackpot winner, leading up to this record-breaking draw. The estimated jackpot of $1.13 billion ranks as the eighth-largest in U.S. lottery history and the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history. Notably, the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won was $1.602 billion in Florida in August of the previous year.
Winners of Mega Millions jackpots have the option to receive their winnings as a lump sum payment or in annual installments over 30 years. Only those who choose the annuity option receive the full jackpot amount. Before taxes, the estimated lump sum payout for this particular drawing was $537.5 million.
Furthermore, Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday nights, while Powerball draws are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. The Powerball jackpot, which has yet to see a winner, reached an estimated $865 million as of Tuesday night.
In order to secure the Mega Millions jackpot, players must match all five white balls along with the yellow Mega Ball. The odds of winning a prize in the Mega Millions game are 1 in 24, while the chances of hitting the jackpot are just 1 in 302,575,350.
Mega Millions tickets are available for purchase in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The standard ticket price is $2, with the option to add bonuses for an additional fee to potentially increase non-jackpot prizes. The upcoming Mega Millions drawing will offer an estimated $20 million jackpot amount, serving as the starting point for the next jackpot series.