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, March 17th drawing, and now stands at $60 million, with a cash value of $27.1 million.
If someone is lucky enough to win the jackpot on Tuesday, they have two options. Take home one-time cash or get paid instantly, then receive an annual check that’s 5% larger than the previous year.
The Tuesday, March 10th jackpot winner became the first person to win the Mega Millions jackpot in 2026, according to the Lottery. The last jackpot was won on December 2nd in New Jersey. Since then, 28 drawings have been created.
With Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing just hours away, here’s what you need to know.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for March 17, 2026?
USA TODAY will publish the winning numbers for Tuesday’s Mega Millions lottery after the drawing at 11pm ET.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, March 20th 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 players can choose six numbers from two different number pools: five different numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (gold mega ball), or choose 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 ranging from 1 to 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 request 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 your non-jackpot prize 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_.
