New Jersey Player Wins $3 Million as Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $672 Million

A lucky lottery player in New Jersey is celebrating after winning $3 million in the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The winning ticket was one of three big prizes awarded nationwide, with a total of $9 million won by players across the country.

🎉 Three Big Winners Across the U.S.

The drawing produced three tickets that matched all five white balls:

• New Jersey: $3 million
• Georgia: $4 million
• Florida: $2 million

Lottery officials have not yet announced where the winning tickets were purchased.

Mega Millions Jackpot Rolls to $672 Million

Since no one matched all six numbers, the jackpot continues to grow. The next Mega Millions drawing, set for Friday, July 17, 2026, will feature an estimated $672 million jackpot with a cash option of approximately $293.3 million.

Even more exciting: The prize now ranks as the 10th-largest Mega Millions jackpot in the game's history.

The last jackpot winner was an Ohio player who claimed a $60 million prize on March 17, 2026.

Winning Numbers for July 14, 2026

The winning numbers were:

2 – 4 – 10 – 48 – 56
Mega Ball: 22

How Mega Millions Works

A Mega Millions ticket costs $5 and automatically includes a multiplier that can increase most non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.

To play:

• Pick five numbers from 1 to 70
• Choose one Mega Ball from 1 to 24
• Or simply select a Quick Pick and let the lottery machine choose your numbers.

You don't have to be a U.S. citizen or live in the state where you buy your ticket.

Prize Breakdown

Matching only the Mega Ball earns a minimum $10 prize.

Matching all five white balls wins at least $2 million in most states (California follows different prize rules).

Where You Can Play

Mega Millions is available in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The only states that do not offer Mega Millions are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• Utah

Tickets can be purchased at:

• Gas stations
• Convenience stores
• Grocery stores
• Some airport terminals
• Authorized online lottery courier services in participating states

Ticket Purchase Deadlines

Each state sets its own deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets. Sales usually end 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing, although some online lottery services may stop accepting orders even earlier.

What Are the Odds?

Mega Millions offers life-changing jackpots, but the odds of hitting the grand prize are incredibly slim:

🎯 Jackpot Odds: 1 in 290,472,336

Cash Option vs. Annuity

Jackpot winners typically choose between:

• Cash Option: A one-time lump-sum payment that's lower than the advertised jackpot.
• Annuity: An initial payment followed by 29 annual payments, with each payment increasing by 5%.

Can Winners Stay Anonymous?

Yes—New Jersey allows lottery winners to remain anonymous. However, anonymity rules vary by state, so winners should check local lottery laws where they purchased their ticket.

Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots

1. $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 (Florida)
2. $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
3. $1.348 billion – January 13, 2023 (Maine)
4. $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
5. $1.269 billion – December 27, 2024 (California)
6. $1.128 billion – March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
7. $1.05 billion – January 22, 2021 (Michigan)
8. $983 million – November 14, 2025 (Georgia)
9. $810 million – September 10, 2024 (Texas)
10. $672 million – Estimated for July 17, 2026

Largest U.S. Lottery Jackpots Ever

Some of the biggest lottery prizes in U.S. history include:

• $2.04 billion Powerball – November 7, 2022 (California)
• $1.817 billion Powerball – December 24, 2025 (Arkansas)
• $1.787 billion Powerball – September 6, 2025 (Missouri and Texas)
• $1.765 billion Powerball – October 11, 2023 (California)
• $1.602 billion Mega Millions – August 8, 2023 (Florida)
• $1.586 billion Powerball – January 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee)
• $1.537 billion Mega Millions – October 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
• $1.348 billion Mega Millions – January 13, 2023 (Maine)
• $1.337 billion Mega Millions – July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
• $1.326 billion Powerball – April 6, 2024 (Oregon)