Mega Millions Jackpot Surges to $215 Million After Latest Draw

CLEVELAND, OH — The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $215 million after no one claimed the top prize in the Friday, Feb. 28 drawing. Players now have the chance to win a one-time cash option of approximately $100.9 million if they match all six numbers correctly.

The winning numbers from the latest drawing were 9, 19, 30, 35, and 66, with the Mega Ball at 16 and the Megaplier set at 3x. Although the jackpot remains unclaimed, thousands of players secured smaller prizes, with several tickets matching four numbers and winning $10,000 each, one of which was boosted by the Megaplier for a total of $30,000 in winnings.

Lottery officials confirmed that only four tickets have successfully matched all six Mega Millions numbers in 2024, marking the fewest number of jackpots won in a calendar year since the game’s inception in 2002. This lack of winners in the higher prize tiers highlights the growing anticipation for Tuesday’s drawing, when the jackpot will be even larger.

Mega Millions tickets are available for purchase at various locations, including convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. In some states, players can opt to buy tickets online through platforms like the Jackpocket app, which allows users to pick numbers digitally and manage their lottery experience from their devices. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier for the USA TODAY Network.

To play, participants must select six numbers: five from a pool of white balls numbered 1 to 70, and one gold Mega Ball from 1 to 25. For those who prefer a random selection, players can request a “Quick Pick” option, where the computer generates numbers automatically.

In addition to the base $2 ticket price for Mega Millions, players can choose to add the Megaplier for an extra dollar. This feature allows non-jackpot prizes to potentially increase by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x. The Megaplier itself is randomly drawn prior to the lottery numbers.

The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Tuesday, March 4, at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, with ticket sales ending at 10:45 p.m. on the night of the draw in Michigan and other states. Participants are reminded that the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot stand at 1 in 302,575,350.

For winners, claiming procedures vary by state. In Florida, for example, winning prizes must be claimed within 180 days from the drawing date. Lottery enthusiasts are encouraged to check the latest regulations and information to ensure they don’t miss their opportunity to claim any prizes.

As of now, the largest Mega Millions jackpot in history reached a staggering $1.58 billion in August 2023. The game’s popularity continues to attract millions of players across the nation, fueling excitement as jackpots reach life-changing amounts.