For the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, May 26, the jackpot is estimated at $311 million, with a $136.4 million cash option. The winning numbers are 1-5-49-51-59, with the gold Mega Ball 7. The next drawing is scheduled for Friday, May 29 at 11 p.m. ET.
The Mega Millions jackpot landed at an estimated $311 million for Tuesday, May 26, with a cash option of $136.4 million—an amount that has most people doing the same quick math: how far would it go, and what would life look like after a single ticket?
It has been more than two months since the last jackpot win. A single ticket in Ohio took home a $60 million prize on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
For Tuesday’s drawing, the winning Mega Millions numbers were 1-5-49-51-59 and the gold Mega Ball was 7.
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, May 29, at 11 p.m. ET.
Mega Millions doesn’t just pull in weekend players—it also keeps a running scoreboard of enormous past payouts. including $1.602 billion on Aug. 8, 2023 in Florida; $1.537 billion on Oct. 23, 2018 in South Carolina; $1.348 billion on Jan. 1, 2023 in Maine; $1.337 billion on July 29, 2022 in Illinois; and $1.269 billion on Dec. 27, 2024 in California.
Other top jackpots include $1.128 billion on Mar. 26, 2024 in New Jersey; $1.05 billion on Jan. 22, 2021 in Michigan; $983 million on Nov. 14, 2025 in Georgia; $810 million on Sept. 10, 2024 in Texas; and $656 million on March 30, 2012 in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $5, and players pick six numbers—five white-ball numbers from 1–70 and one gold Mega Ball from 1–24. Jackpots are won by matching all six numbers. If more than one ticket hits, the jackpot is split among winners.
To play, people can buy tickets at a convenience store, gas station, grocery store, or in some states, online. Players can also use Quick Pick/Easy Pick, which randomly generates numbers.
Each ticket includes a built-in multiplier that boosts non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x.
For players circling their calendars, the timing is clear: the next draw is Friday, May 29, at 11 p.m. ET.
Mega Millions lottery jackpot $311 million May 26 cash option gold Mega Ball 7 winning numbers May 29 drawing
311 million sounds fake lol. i bet someone i know won.
So the winning numbers are 1-5-49-51-59 and the Mega Ball 7… meaning it’s basically luck but also math? I always forget the Mega Ball part. If I pick 1-5-49-51-59 without the 7 does it still count? Like for real?
Wait Ohio got $60 million March 17 right? That was St. Patrick’s Day so I’m like… they picked the numbers on a shamrock or something. Anyway $136.4 million cash option sounds like what, after taxes? Cuz my cousin said you don’t actually get that full cash.
Mega Millions is rigged. Every time it gets this high, they act like “random numbers” but it’s always the same few people winning in random states. Florida, California, Illinois… like cmon. Also tickets are $5 and “multiplier” boosts prizes but not the jackpot, so why even bother unless you’re already rich? I’m still gonna buy one though bc who knows.