See which states are the luckiest in the lottery
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes shares which states have claimed the most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots wins.
The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $145 million for tonight’s drawing, giving lottery players across the country a chance to cash in on one of the game’s bigger prizes this summer. The jackpot carries a lump-sum cash option of $61.9 million for anyone lucky enough to match all six numbers.
The drawing comes just weeks after a Florida player won an $800 million Mega Millions jackpot, resetting the game and kicking off another climb toward nine-figure territory. With no recent jackpot winner, the prize has grown to $145 million ahead of Friday night’s drawing, with winning numbers scheduled to be released after 11 p.m. ET.
With the next Mega Millions drawing only hours away, here is what you need to know.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for Aug. 28?
USA TODAY will update this story with the winning numbers after the drawing takes place Friday night.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 11 p.m. ET.
How much is the Mega Millions jackpot worth?
The jackpot for the Aug. 28 drawing is estimated at $145 million, with a cash value of $61.9 million.
Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots
- $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
- $1.269 billion on Dec. 27, 2024 in California
- $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
- $803 million on July 28, 2026 in Florida
How to play Mega Millions
Players pick five white-ball numbers from 1 to 70 and one gold Mega Ball number from 1 to 24. Tickets also include a built-in multiplier that boosts non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five or 10 times. Players can also choose a Quick Pick or Easy Pick for randomly generated numbers.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.