Mega Millions Ticket Price and Current Jackpot
A single Mega Millions play costs $2 per drawing at authorized retailers and official lottery apps across participating U.S. states and territories. The minimum jackpot starts at $20 million and grows when there is no top-tier winner, with the current jackpot and recent draw results updated on the official Mega Millions website Mega Millions official site.
Jackpot amounts are displayed in millions of dollars and change after each drawing based on ticket sales and number of winners, with the latest jackpot total published in the results section of the official Mega Millions site and reported by major financial outlets Forbes.
Mega Millions Odds, Prize Tiers, and Drawing Schedule
The overall odds of winning any prize in Mega Millions are roughly 1 in 24, while the odds of matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million, according to the official game rules and probability breakdowns National Lottery Co.
Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with nine prize tiers ranging from matching the Mega Ball only to matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball, and each tier has a fixed or pari-mutuel payout structure that is detailed in the official Mega Millions prize chart Mega Millions official site.
Where to Buy Mega Millions Tickets and Claiming Prizes
Mega Millions tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as through official state lottery websites and mobile apps that support in-state ticket sales Mega Millions official site.
Winners must claim prizes according to the deadlines set by each jurisdiction, typically ranging from 90 days to one year from the drawing date, with jackpot claims usually requiring a visit to the state lottery headquarters and smaller prizes claimable at authorized retailers or lottery offices SEC.