The final numbers for Friday (April 3) were 24, 38, 44, 57, 58 and Mega Ball of 17 and a multiplier of X4. The draw had an estimated jackpot of $121 Million ($98.2 Million cash option), and that sum will now increase by at least $5 million as officials confirm there were no jackpot winners.
The next draw will take place at 11 p.m. on Tuesday (April 7) and comes with an estimated jackpot of $127 million in graduated payouts (or $103 million cash option).
According to Mega Millions officials, there were no winners in the second $1 million category on Friday (five balls matched) but five people won prices of $10,000. One those, one winner had bought the 4X multiplayer, which boosted their final winnings to $40,000. Thirty-nine people won $2,000 each.
For payment, money that is won can either come as an annuity, one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments rising by five percent each payment, or cash, which is described online as a “one-time, lump-sum payment that is equal to all the cash in the jackpot prize pool.”
The first Mega Millions jackpot of this year was won in New Jersey on February 11. The ticket holder, who was not identified, won a $202 million jackpot prize ($142.6 million cash).
The overall odds of winning a prize are set at one in 24, lottery officials say. Here are the top five Mega Millions jackpots to date, sorted by location, date and approximate amount won:
South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018: $1. 537 billionMaryland on March 30, 2012: $656 millionGeorgia on December 17, 2013: $648 millionCalifornia on July 24, 2018: $543 millionIndiana on July 8, 2016: $536 million
In February, officials say a Virginia man named Bob Ogrodnik walked away with $1 million after buying three tickets for the January 14 drawing from a 7-Eleven store. “It was sort of a shock,” he told Virginia Lottery officials after realizing he had won. “My mind is swimming!” Ogrodnik, who is a retiree who served in the Navy for 30 years, said he has no immediate plans for his own winnings.
Mega Millions cost $2 per play, with participants picking six numbers from two pools: five separate numbers for white balls between one and 70 and a single gold “Mega Ball” number that is between one and 25. The more balls that are matched in the final draw, the bigger the winnings.
Matching all six numbers results in the jackpot, which starts at $40 million then rolls over and grows by a minimum of $5 million per draw every time no one takes home the money. Draws are televised Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET, and also streamed to YouTube.
All players are urged to gamble responsibly.
