Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $285 Million Ahead of January 27 Drawing

The Mega Millions jackpot is still climbing, and ahead of the Tuesday, January 27 drawing, it’s now sitting at a massive $285 million, or $128.6 million in cash. Not a bad night if luck’s on your side.

? Big choice for the winner:
Anyone who hits all six numbers gets to decide between:

• A one-time lump-sum cash payout, or

• Yearly payments that start right away and grow by 5% each year

Lottery wins are already making headlines this year. Just last week, a Powerball ticket sold in North Carolina scored an estimated $209 million jackpot. The winner chose the lump sum and walked away with $68.6 million after taxes.

? Drawing details you should know

• The Mega Millions drawing takes place Tuesday night at 11 p.m. ET

• Miss this one? The next drawing is Friday, January 30

? Some of the biggest Mega Millions jackpots ever

• $1.602 billion – Florida

• $1.537 billion – South Carolina

• $1.348 billion – Maine

• $1.337 billion – Illinois

• $1.269 billion – California

Mega Millions is played across 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs $5, and players choose:

• Five white numbers from 1 to 70

• One gold Mega Ball from 1 to 24

? Good to know:
All tickets now include a built-in multiplier that can boost non-jackpot prizes by 2x to 10x—no extra cost.

If picking numbers isn’t your thing, the Quick Pick/Easy Pick option lets the system choose for you. Simple, fast, and stress-free.

With the jackpot growing and the drawing just hours away, now’s the moment everyone’s double-checking their tickets and daydreaming a little bigger.