Check out the luckiest states in the lottery
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes takes a look at the states with the most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.
The Mega Millions jackpot has risen ahead of the Tuesday, May 5th drawing to reach $195 million, with a cash value of $86.3 million.
If someone is lucky enough to win the jackpot, they have two options. Take home one-time cash or get paid instantly, then receive an annual check each 5% larger than the previous year.
The drawing comes after one of the most active weeks for Powerball in years, with four jackpot winners in two drawings. The first participants, from Indiana and Kansas, took home a $143 jackpot on Wednesday, April 29th.
A few days later, two other players from Texas and Florida took home a $20 million jackpot.
But Mega Millions has been having a quiet period of late, as the last time someone took home a jackpot was on St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday’s drawing.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for May 5, 2026?
Here are the winning numbers for Tuesday’s Mega Millions lottery. 12, 22, 50, 51 and 55. mega ball is 10.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, May 8th at 11:00 PM ET.
Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots
- August 8, 2023, $1.602 billion in Florida.
- $1.537 billion in South Carolina on October 23, 2018
- January 1, 2023, $1.348 billion in Maine
- July 29, 2022, $1.337 billion in Illinois
- December 27, 2024, $1.269 billion in California
- $1.128 billion in New Jersey on March 26, 2024
- January 22, 2021, $1.05 billion in Michigan
- $983 million in Georgia on November 14, 2025
- $810 million in Texas on September 10, 2024
- March 30, 2012, $656 million in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland
What is Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is a lottery that is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each ticket costs $5 and allows players to choose six numbers from two separate pools. You can choose between 5 different numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (gold mega ball) – or Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
If you match all six winning numbers in the drawing, you win the jackpot. If there are multiple jackpot winners, the jackpot prize will be shared.
How to play Mega Millions
To play Mega Millions, you must purchase a ticket. This can be done at several locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.
In some states, you can purchase Mega Millions tickets online.
Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls, numbered 1-70. Gold Mega Balls range from 1 to 24.
If you’re feeling particularly unlucky or don’t want to go through the hassle of picking, you can ask for a “quick pick” or “easy pick.” When you use these options, your computer randomly generates numbers.
Mega Millions tickets have built-in multipliers that increase non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. Previously, players had to pay an extra dollar to add a “Megaplier”.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
