Current:Home > NewsThe Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous. -WealthRise Academy
The Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous.
View
Date:2025-04-12 09:59:24
The Mega Millions jackpot soared to a colossal $800 million on Tuesday, enticing players to get in on the action.
Laws in some states allow for national lottery winners to collect the prize anonymously. If the third Mega Millions winner of the year is in one of those states come Tuesday, we may never know who they are.
Tuesday's jackpot clears all prize-size requirements in states that have them. Arkansas is the only state that grants anonymity for winners on a temporary basis, with the identities of winners in the state shielded for three years.
The last winner was in June, when someone in Illinois took advantage of the state's anonymity laws to claim the $552 million prize.
Here are the places where winners can anonymously claim lottery prizes, and the requirements for them.
Feeling Lucky? Explore the Latest Lottery News & Results
Where Mega Millions winners can claim anonymously
- Arizona: Prize must be over $100,000
- Arkansas: Prize must be over $500,000 and a winner is only anonymous for three years
- Delaware: Any prize
- Georgia: Prize must be over $250,000
- Illinois: Prize must be over $250,000
- Kansas: Any prize
- Maryland: Any prize
- Michigan: Prize must be over $10,000 in state-run games only
- Minnesota: Prize must be over $10,000
- Mississippi: Any prize
- Missouri: Any prize
- Montana: Any prize
- New Jersey: Any prize
- North Dakota: Any prize
- South Carolina: Any prize
- Texas: Prize must be over $1 million
- Virginia: Prize must be greater than $10 million
- West Virginia: Prize must be over $1 million
- Wyoming: Any prize
What is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
If the right six numbers are pulled Tuesday night, the jackpot as it stands would not crack the top five largest prizes of all time. The top five are:
- $1.602 billion from one winning ticket in Florida in August 2023
- $1.537 billion from one winning ticket in October 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.35 billion from one winning ticket in January 2023 in Maine
- $1.34 billion from one winning ticket in July 2022 in Illinois
- $1.12 billion from one winning ticket in March 2024 in New Jersey
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are long. Players have a one in 302,575,350 shot at winning the grand prize, a one in 12,607,306 shot at winning the $1 million prize and a one in 24 chance of winning any prize.
How to play Mega Millions
Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play.
There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
To play, pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. You can choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.
What is the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
veryGood! (6746)
Related
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- 'Batman: Caped Crusader' is (finally) the Dark Knight of our dreams: Review
- Browns RB D'Onta Foreman sent to hospital by helicopter after training camp hit
- As a historic prisoner exchange unfolds, a look back at other famous East-West swaps
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Biden’s new Title IX rules are all set to take effect. But not in these states.
- CrowdStrike sued by shareholders over huge software outage
- After Olympics, Turkey’s Erdogan seeks unity with Pope Francis against acts that mock sacred values
- Small twin
- Environmental Journalism Loses a Hero
Ranking
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Simone Biles edges Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade for her second Olympic all-around gymnastics title
- Bruce Willis and Wife Emma Heming's Daughters Look So Grown Up in New Video
- Can dogs eat grapes? Know which human foods are safe, toxic for your furry friends.
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- An 'asymmetrical' butt? Why Lululemon pulled its new leggings off shelves
- Who is Paul Whelan? What to know about Michigan man freed from Russia
- As a historic prisoner exchange unfolds, a look back at other famous East-West swaps
Recommendation
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Ballerina Farm Influencer Hannah Neeleman Slams “Attack on Her Family Lifestyle
Donald Trump’s gag order remains in effect after hush money conviction, New York appeals court rules
There are so few doctors in Maui County that even medical workers struggle to get care
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Illinois sheriff whose deputy shot Sonya Massey says it will take rest of his career to regain trust
Wildfires encroach on homes near Denver as heat hinders fight
JoJo Siwa Details Her Exact Timeline for Welcoming Her 3 Babies