A lucky ticket holder in Northeast Ohio hit the $112 million Mega Millions jackpot on Friday night—the first to do so under the game’s new rules.
Why It Matters
The lottery is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with around half of all Americans playing in state lotteries. The largest Powerball jackpot in history, $2.04 billion, was won in November 2022 in California, while the largest Mega Millions jackpot, $1.602 billion, was won in August 2023, in Florida.
The odds of winning a lottery jackpot are extremely low, with Powerball odds at 1 in 292.2 million and Mega Millions odds at 1 in 209.47 million, according to their respective websites. Both lotteries offer better odds for smaller prizes, with Mega Millions stating that the odds of winning any prize is 1 in 23.
What To Know
Under the new rules which went into effect in April, players select five numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 24 for a chance to win the Mega Millions jackpot, which starts at a newly increased $50 million. Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays, with the jackpot increasing until there is a winner. Tickets now cost $5 and include the Megaplier already.
The first drawing under the new Mega Millions rules was held on April 8. The updated format features “bigger prizes at every non-jackpot prize tier, better odds to win the jackpot, better odds overall, larger starting jackpots, faster-growing jackpots, and a built-in multiplier that will increase all non-jackpot prizes by 2X-10X,” according to its website.
The new game also states that there are “no break-even prizes, meaning when you win, you’ll always win more than the cost to play.”
“In the April 18 drawing, there were 229,771 winning tickets across all prize tiers, in addition to the jackpot-winning ticket,” Mega Millions reported.
Purchased Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are shown at Mares Mart in Chicago on April 6. Purchased Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are shown at Mares Mart in Chicago on April 6. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Where Was Winning Mega Millions Ticket Sold?
The winning ticket was sold at a Giant Eagle supermarket in South Euclid, Ohio, about 15 miles east of Cleveland. The store is located at 4401 Mayfield Road.
Ohio has had 21 jackpot winners, according to Mega Millions.
What Were the Winning Mega Millions Numbers for $112 Million Jackpot?
The lucky numbers that scored someone the $112 million jackpot were: 5, 13, 15, 17, 28 and Mega Ball 1. The winner chose their own numbers.
The jackpot was cumulating since it was last won on March 25.
What People Are Saying
Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a Friday press release: “Moments like this are exactly why we reimagined the game. This jackpot win – and the millions of dollars going to non-jackpot winners every drawing – is the result of years of planning, collaboration, and listening to what players want. We’re proud of what this game is already delivering for our players and beneficiaries and are looking forward to the future big wins to come.”
What Happens Next?
The winner can choose to receive an annuity paid over 30 years, with each payment 5 percent bigger than the previous one. Or they can cash out with a one-time lump sum of $49.3 million. In Ohio, the person with the winning ticket has 180 days to claim the jackpot.
The next Mega Millions drawing is Tuesday April 22 at 11 p.m. ET. The current jackpot is reset to the starting $50 million.
