Record-Breaking Jackpots Await Winners in Mega Millions and Powerball Drawings

As excitement soars, the chance at a life-changing fortune approaches once again for lottery players across the United States.

With a whopping estimated $1.1 billion jackpot up for grabs, the Mega Millions drawing scheduled for Tuesday night has stirred the hopes of countless individuals looking to secure the largest prize in U.S. lottery history. This enormous sum has eluded winners since December 8, 2023, resulting in an unprecedented 30 successive drawings without a jackpot claim.

Still find yourself without the winning ticket in hand after Tuesday? Fear not, for another staggering jackpot awaits on Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, with an estimated $865 million prize tantalizing those eager to win big. Similar to Mega Millions, the Powerball game has seen no jackpot winners since the start of the year, amounting to 36 drawings without a recipient of the grand prize.

These prolonged stretches without jackpot winners are no accident but rather a deliberate strategy to create massive prize pools that captivate players and drive ticket sales. Both Mega Millions and Powerball boast incredibly steep odds – 1 in 302.6 million and 1 in 292.2 million, respectively – designed to foster the growth of colossal jackpots.

If a single winner secures the $1.1 billion Mega Millions prize and chooses the annuity option paid out over 30 years, they could potentially walk away with a staggering $525.8 million in cash. However, this grand sum would be subject to federal taxes, in addition to possible state taxes on lottery winnings.

Mega Millions is played across 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, while Powerball is available in the same states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, heightening the excitement and participation levels in these high-stakes drawings.