Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $145 Million Ahead of Tuesday Drawing

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an estimated $145 million for the Tuesday drawing after no winners emerged in the latest Friday drawing held on February 14. The cash option for anyone who matches all six numbers will be $66.3 million.

The winning numbers from Friday’s drawing were 11, 19, 31, 49, 56, with a Mega Ball of 16 and a Megaplier of 3X. Following the drawing, two players from California and Pennsylvania each matched five white balls, securing a $1 million prize.

According to Mega Millions, there have only been four jackpot winners since the year’s beginning, making 2024 the year with the fewest jackpots since the game’s inception in 2002.

The biggest recent win occurred on January 17, when one lucky player in Arizona claimed a $113 million jackpot. In a competitive landscape, these statistics highlight the challenges lottery players face amid rising jackpot figures.

“This could be your lucky day,” said Fernando Cervantes Jr., a trending news reporter. “With such a large jackpot, people from across the country will be eager to try their luck.”

To participate in Mega Millions, players must select six numbers: five white balls, which range from 1 to 70, and one golden Mega Ball, numbered from 1 to 25. Tickets are priced at $2, but players may also opt for a “Quick Pick” for a computer-generated random selection of numbers.

Additionally, for an extra dollar, players can add the Megaplier option, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times. This multiplier is drawn prior to the Mega Millions numbers on both Tuesdays and Fridays.

Mega Millions tickets can be purchased at various locations, including gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. In some states, players have the option to buy tickets online through platforms like Jackpocket.

The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on Tuesday, February 18, at 11 p.m. ET, with ticket sales closing by 10:45 p.m. in many locations.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at 1 in 302,575,350. In contrast, players have a significantly better chance of winning smaller prizes, which range from $2 for matching just the Mega Ball up to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California).

Players are advised to purchase their tickets promptly as the deadline for ticket sales varies by state, with many closing as early as 10 p.m. or even earlier in some cases.