Mega Millions
Mega Millions odds and prizes
Mega Millions is played by choosing 5 numbers from 1 to 70 and 1 Mega Ball from 1 to 24. There are 290,472,336 possible lines, and each one has exactly the same chance of being drawn. Overall, a line wins a prize of any tier about once in 23.1 draws.
Mega Millions odds and prizes
| Match | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot · 5 + MB | 1 in 290,472,336 | Annuity over 30 years or a lower lump sum |
| 5 numbers | 1 in 12,629,232 | $2M – $10M |
| 4 + MB | 1 in 893,761 | $20,000 – $100,000 |
| 4 numbers | 1 in 38,859 | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| 3 + MB | 1 in 13,965 | $400 – $2,000 |
| 3 numbers | 1 in 607 | $20 – $100 |
| 2 + MB | 1 in 665 | $20 – $100 |
| 1 + MB | 1 in 85.8 | $14 – $70 |
| MB only | 1 in 35.2 | $10 – $50 |
Odds follow from the game's rules: the count of lines that match each tier, out of every possible line. Each play includes a random 2× to 10× multiplier. California pays all prizes pari-mutuel.
How Mega Millions is played
- Price per line
- $5
- Draws
- Tue & Fri, 11pm ET
- Sales close
- Set by each state lottery, usually 15 minutes to two hours before the draw
- Jackpot payment
- Annuity over 30 years or a lower lump sum
Questions about Mega Millions odds
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
1 in 290,472,336 for each line, in every draw. Playing more lines adds chances one line at a time; no choice of numbers changes the odds of a line.
What are the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize?
About 1 in 23.1 per line, counting every prize tier.
Does choosing my own numbers or a random line change the odds?
No. Chosen or random, every line has the same chance. What can differ is how many other players hold the same kind of line, and so how a prize would be shared.
Have my Mega Millions numbers ever won?Mega Millions jackpot