Mega Millions is one of America's two giant jackpot lotteries, relaunched in April 2025 with bigger prizes and a new format: 5 numbers from 1-70 plus one Mega Ball from 1-24, a US$5 play with a random 2×-10× multiplier built into every ticket, draws every Tuesday and Friday, and jackpots that start at an estimated US$50 million and roll without a cap. Its record stands at $1.602 billion, won in Florida in August 2023.
How does Mega Millions work?
Twice a week, five white balls are drawn from a drum of 70 and one gold Mega Ball from a drum of 24. Match enough numbers and you win one of nine prize tiers — and because every ticket now carries a built-in multiplier drawn at purchase (2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or 10×), every non-jackpot prize is automatically multiplied. The smallest possible win is $10; the match-5 second prize runs from $2 million up to $10 million with the top multiplier.
Mega Millions: basic information
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Draw nights | Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 pm Eastern Time |
| Number format | 5 numbers from 1-70 + 1 Mega Ball from 1-24 |
| Ticket price | US$5 per play, multiplier included |
| Starting jackpot | Estimated US$50 million, rolling with no cap |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 290,472,336 per play |
| Prize tiers | 9 (any-prize odds about 1 in 23) |
| Record jackpot | $1.602 billion - August 2023, Florida |
How to play Mega Millions (step by step)
- Choose 5 numbers from 1 to 70, or take a quick pick.
- Choose 1 Mega Ball from 1 to 24. It's drawn from its own drum, so it can repeat one of your white-ball numbers.
- Your multiplier comes with the ticket - a random 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or 10× is printed on every play; there is nothing extra to buy.
- Buy before the cut-off - at a US retailer, via your state lottery's online platform where available, or through a lottery messenger service from abroad.
- Check the Tuesday or Friday draw at 11:00 pm ET and claim within your jurisdiction's deadline.
What changed in the 2025 relaunch?
The April 2025 revamp was the game's biggest overhaul since 2017. The play price rose from US$2 to US$5, the separate Megaplier add-on was retired in favour of a multiplier included on every ticket, the Mega Ball pool shrank from 25 to 24 (improving jackpot odds from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336), starting jackpots more than doubled to an estimated US$50 million, and the minimum win rose to $10. If you last played before 2025, the game on sale today is materially different — and slightly easier to win.
Mega Millions prize tiers
Nine ways to win; base amounts below are multiplied by your ticket's 2×-10× multiplier:
| Match | Odds (per play) | Base prize |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Mega Ball | 1 in 290,472,336 | Jackpot (shared if multiple winners) |
| 5 | 1 in 12,629,232 | $1,000,000 (up to $10 million with the 10× multiplier) |
| 4 + Mega Ball | 1 in 893,761 | $10,000 |
| 4 | 1 in 38,859 | $500 |
| 3 + Mega Ball | 1 in 13,965 | $200 |
| 3 | 1 in 607 | $10 |
| 2 + Mega Ball | 1 in 665 | base × multiplier |
| 1 + Mega Ball | 1 in 86 | base × multiplier |
| Mega Ball only | 1 in 35 | $5 base - $10 minimum after the multiplier |
The full tier-by-tier mathematics is in our Mega Millions odds and prizes guide.
The biggest Mega Millions jackpots ever
$1.602 billion - August 2023, a single ticket in Florida (the game's record)
$1.537 billion - October 2018, South Carolina
$1.348 billion - January 2023, Maine
Mega Millions vs Powerball
The two giants are more different since the relaunch: Mega Millions costs US$5 with the multiplier built in and now has slightly better jackpot odds (1 in 290.5 million vs 1 in 292.2 million), while US Powerball stays at US$2 with optional add-ons and draws three nights a week to Mega Millions' two. Our full Powerball vs Mega Millions comparison breaks down which suits which player.
Can you play Mega Millions from outside the United States?
Yes — you need an official ticket bought inside a participating US jurisdiction, not US citizenship. Lottery messenger services buy the ticket locally and scan it to your account before the draw. We publish dedicated guides for playing from the United Kingdom, India, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, the Philippines, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Mexico and Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the rules of Mega Millions?
Pick 5 numbers from 1–70 and one Mega Ball from 1–24; draws are Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 pm ET. Every US$5 play includes a random 2×–10× multiplier applied to any non-jackpot prize. Match the Mega Ball alone for the minimum $10 win, or all six numbers for the jackpot.
How much does a Mega Millions ticket cost?
US$5 per play since the April 2025 relaunch, with the prize multiplier included — there is no separate add-on to buy. Before 2025 the game cost US$2 plus an optional US$1 Megaplier; that structure no longer exists.
What is the Mega Millions multiplier?
A random 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or 10× printed on every ticket at purchase. It multiplies all non-jackpot prizes automatically — the $1 million match-5 prize becomes $2–10 million — and replaced the old optional Megaplier in the 2025 relaunch.
What time is the Mega Millions drawing?
11:00 pm Eastern Time every Tuesday and Friday, drawn in Atlanta. Sales cut off earlier in the evening, typically one to two hours before the draw depending on the state or platform.
Did Mega Millions odds change in 2025?
Yes — the Mega Ball pool shrank from 25 to 24, improving jackpot odds from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336, and any-prize odds improved to about 1 in 23. Mega Millions now has slightly better jackpot odds than Powerball.
Can I play Mega Millions if I don't live in the US?
Yes. Any official ticket bought inside a participating jurisdiction can win, regardless of the holder's nationality or residence. Messenger services buy the ticket in the US on your behalf and scan it to your account; prizes come from the lottery itself.