Mega Millions Jackpot Rockets to $980M: Here’s What to Know

By Gaurav Bisht | Published November 15, 2025 02:04 am GMT

Mega Millions Madness: Nearly $1B on the Line

The Mega Millions fever just got hotter — the jackpot has surged to an eye-popping $980 million, inching closer to that billion-dollar mark. Thanks to a spike in ticket sales, the prize jumped from its original $965 million estimate. The cash option? A cool $445.2 million.

This jackpot holds strong as the 8th largest Mega Millions prize ever and the 14th biggest U.S. lottery jackpot on record.

Before dreaming too big, remember: the last Mega Millions jackpot was hit back on June 27, when a lucky Virginia player snagged $348 million.

? Recent Winning Action

The Nov. 11 drawing gave us these numbers:
10 – 13 – 40 – 42 – 46, Mega Ball 1

Three players came this close to the jackpot, each nailing all five white balls:

$5 million (5X) – CVS Store in Peoria, Arizona
$3 million (3X) – Nofo Beer and Smoke, Mattituck, New York
$3 million (3X) – Kwik Star, Norwalk, Iowa

Talk about near-miss millionaires.

? How Mega Millions Works

Tickets cost $5, multiplier included.
Pick 5 numbers (1–70) plus 1 Mega Ball (1–24).
Or skip the stress and grab a Quick Pick.
Matching just the Mega Ball gets you $10.
Match all five white balls and you’re looking at $2 million (except in California).

Drawings happen every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET.

? Where You Can Play

Mega Millions is offered in 45 states, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
(Not available in: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah.)

Buy tickets at convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and even some airports. Online ordering is also available in select states through approved courier apps.

Each state sets its own cutoff time, usually 15 minutes to 2 hours before the drawing — so don’t push your luck.

? Odds & Reality Check

Exciting? Absolutely.
Easy to win? Not exactly.
Your odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336 — so don’t go spending your imaginary millions just yet.