Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $800 Million After No Winner Friday Night
Friday night's Mega Millions drawing ended with the winning numbers 2, 5, 42, 44, 60, plus Gold Mega Ball 1. Since no jackpot winner was announced, the top prize has now climbed to an estimated $800 million for Tuesday night's drawing.
Here's what's at stake:
- Estimated jackpot: $800 million (annuity)
- Cash option: $344.2 million
- Approximate payout after immediate 23% federal tax: $261.6 million
- Estimated amount after the highest federal tax rate: About $216.9 million
Players who choose the annuity would receive about 30 annual payments estimated at $26.6 million each before taxes. After federal taxes, those yearly payments could be reduced to roughly $16.8 million.
Keep in mind that state taxes vary. Lottery winners in states like New York may owe additional state taxes, while winners in Texas, Florida, and California don't pay state tax on lottery prizes.
The odds are tough
Winning the Mega Millions jackpot is incredibly rare, with odds of 1 in 290.4 million. Powerball offers similar long-shot chances at 1 in 292.2 million.
Meanwhile, Powerball is also building excitement with an estimated $600 million jackpot in Saturday night's drawing. The advertised cash option is approximately $165.6 million before any applicable taxes.
A record year for Mega Millions
The current $800 million jackpot is the largest Mega Millions prize of 2026. Earlier this year, a player in Illinois claimed a $533 million Mega Millions jackpot, while the biggest Powerball jackpot won in 2026 reached $250.8 million. Even so, this year's top prize still trails the massive $983 million Mega Millions jackpot won in Georgia in 2025 before taxes.