Mega Millions Is Up to $800 Million — Now One of the 10 Biggest Jackpots Ever
Mega Millions' top reward for Tuesday's (July 28) drawing has increased to an estimated $800 million after 132 days since the jackpot was last won.
The July 28 drawing has risen to the top 10 prizes in Mega Millions' history.
The projected top reward has increased to the 10th-largest jackpot in the game's history and the 18th-largest lottery prize ever offered in the United States following 37 straight rollovers in which no ticket matched all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball.
The July 28 drawing's one-time cash option is expected to be worth $344.2 million. The $800 million reward that was announced would be distributed over a period of 29 years.
Top Jackpots for Mega Millions
Amount Date Winning Tickets
- $1.602 billion 8/8/2023 1-FL
- $1.537 billion 10/23/2018 1-SC
- $1.348 billion 1/13/2023 1-ME
- $1.337 billion 7/29/2022 1-IL
- $1.269 billion 12/27/2024 1-CA
- $1.128 billion 3/26/2024 1-NJ
- $1.050 billion 1/22/2021 1-MI
- $983 million 11/14/2025 1-GA
- $810 million 9/10/2024 1-TX
- $800 million (est.) 7/28/2026
Mega Millions claims to have paid out about $252.4 million in prizes in the 37 draws that preceded the $800 million jackpot, with over 10.2 million tickets winning a reward. There were sixteen second-tier awards worth at least $1 million.
2026 Mega Millions Jackpots With only two jackpot hits, 2026 has been a sluggish year for significant Mega Millions winners.
An Illinois player won $533 million at the drawing on March 10. The winner chose to stay anonymous and used the alias "Lucky Lady" to claim the award that would change her life. "The Happy Trails Trust" won a $60 million Mega Millions jackpot in Ohio just one week later.
According to Mega Millions authorities, there have only been two prizes awarded through July 24 for the second time since the game's beginning in 2002. The first occurred in 2024, which ended with the fewest jackpots given in the history of the game—just four.
Jackpot for Powerball
Powerball is also experiencing a jackpot drought, as there hasn't been a top-prize hit in 36 straight drawings. The cash option is $277.3 million, while the estimated jackpot for tonight's (July 27) drawing is $633 million.
Six tickets almost won the jackpot during Saturday night's drawing because they matched all five white balls but missed the red Powerball, which could have won $1 million.
In 2026, the Powerball jackpot has won five times. The most recent instance was in May when a $20 million jackpot was divided between two tickets sold in Florida and Texas.
This year's highest Powerball jackpot was $250.8 million, which was won by an Arkansas player in the drawing on March 2.
