The Mega Millions jackpot is climbing again! After no one hit the winning numbers in Tuesday’s, Sept. 23 drawing, the prize for Friday, Sept. 26 shot up to a staggering $474 million. For anyone dreaming big, the jackpot winner could choose a one-time cash payout of $219.4 million. Imagine the possibilities!
Friday’s Mega Millions numbers were drawn, and they came up as 4, 21, 27, 33, 49 with a Megaball of 21. Unfortunately, no one matched all six numbers, so the jackpot keeps growing. That means the next jackpot for Sept. 30, 2025, is already an eye-popping $497 million. It could be the fifth Mega Millions jackpot claimed this year if luck strikes.
Speaking of big wins in 2025, we’ve already seen some incredible payouts. Back in June, a lucky ticket in Virginia netted $348 million, the largest jackpot this year so far. Ohio had a winner on April 18 who walked away with $112 million. Illinois has been lucky twice: one ticket hit $344 million in March, and another won $113 million in January.
Playing Mega Millions is simple and exciting. Tickets are available at local convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and in some states online. You pick six numbers—five white balls from 1 to 70 and one gold Mega Ball from 1 to 24—or let the “Quick Pick” feature randomly generate your numbers. Every ticket also includes the Megaplier, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10 times. That means even smaller wins can turn into a fortune.
Drawings happen twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET. Watching the drawing live or checking the official Mega Millions website afterward is a thrill, especially when the jackpot is climbing this high.
Of course, the odds are long—but hey, someone has to win! The chance of hitting the jackpot is 1 in 290,472,336. Non-jackpot prizes vary: matching all five white balls without the Mega Ball nets $1 million, and lower-tier prizes start as small as $5 for matching just the Mega Ball. With the Megaplier, those prizes can grow exponentially, up to $10 million for matching all five white balls, though it doesn’t affect the jackpot itself.
Mega Millions is available in 45 states, including Ohio, plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, you won’t find tickets in Nevada, Utah, Alabama, Alaska, or Hawaii. Keep in mind, a ticket purchased in one state must be claimed in the same state to collect your prize.
For perspective, some Mega Millions jackpots have reached jaw-dropping heights. The largest ever was a $1.602 billion prize in Florida on Aug. 8, 2023. Other notable wins include $1.537 billion in South Carolina (2018) and several over a billion dollars in New Jersey, Michigan, California, and Illinois in recent years. Even a few unclaimed jackpots have topped $825 million.
Whether it’s a $5 ticket or the massive jackpot, Mega Millions keeps people dreaming. Every draw offers the chance to change your life overnight, and with the jackpot climbing toward half a billion dollars, the excitement is electric. So grab your ticket, pick your numbers, and maybe, just maybe, the next big winner will be you.
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