What is the payout for Mega Millions?

The payout for Mega Millions varies depending on the number of matching numbers and whether the Megaplier option was selected.

The Mega Millions game has nine different ways to win, ranging from the jackpot for matching all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball, to smaller prizes for matching just the Mega Ball or one or more white balls. The jackpot starts at $20 million and grows each time there is no winner, with the potential to reach hundreds of millions of dollars. If there is more than one jackpot winner, the prize is split evenly among the winners.

What is Mega Millions?

Mega Millions is a popular lottery game played in multiple states across the United States. To play the game, players select five white ball numbers from 1 to 70, and one gold Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. Players can either choose their own numbers or select a "quick pick" option, which uses a computer to randomly generate the numbers for them. To win the jackpot, a player must match all five white ball numbers and the gold Mega Ball number. If more than one person matches all six numbers, the prize is split evenly among the winners.

What are the odds of winning?

The odds of winning in Mega Millions are as follows:

1. Match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball - Odds of winning: 1 in 302,575,350 - Jackpot amount: Starts at $20 million and increases with each rollover until it is won. The largest jackpot ever won in Mega Millions was $1.537 billion, which was shared by three winners in October 2018.

2. Match all five white balls (but not the Mega Ball) - Odds of winning: 1 in 12,607,306 - Prize amount: $1 million (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

3. Match four white balls and the gold Mega Ball - Odds of winning: 1 in 931,001 - Prize amount: $10,000 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

4. Match four white balls (but not the Mega Ball) - Odds of winning: 1 in 38,792 - Prize amount: $500 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

5. Match three white balls and the gold Mega Ball - Odds of winning: 1 in 14,547 - Prize amount: $200 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

6. Match three white balls (but not the Mega Ball) - Odds of winning: 1 in 606 - Prize amount: $10 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

7. Match two white balls and the gold Mega Ball - Odds of winning: 1 in 693 - Prize amount: $10 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

8. Match one white ball and the gold Mega Ball - Odds of winning: 1 in 89 - Prize amount: $4 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

9. Match just the gold Mega Ball - Odds of winning: 1 in 37 - Prize amount: $2 (or more if the Megaplier option is selected)

The actual prize amounts for each drawing depend on the number of winners and the number of tickets sold. If multiple players win a given prize, the prize money is divided equally among the winners. The Megaplier option can increase non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x, depending on the Megaplier number drawn.

What are the odds of winning with Megaplier?

The odds of winning with the Megaplier option in Mega Millions depend on the specific Megaplier number that is drawn for the particular drawing. The Megaplier number is randomly selected just before the main numbers are drawn, and it can be either 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x.

Here are the odds of winning with the Megaplier for each of the non-jackpot prize levels in Mega Millions:

1. Match five white balls (but not the Mega Ball) with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 3,904,701 - Prize amount: $2 million (if the Megaplier number is 2x)

2. Match four white balls and the gold Mega Ball with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 288,190 - Prize amount: $20,000 to $50,000 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

3. Match four white balls (but not the Mega Ball) with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 12,607 - Prize amount: $1,000 to $2,500 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

4. Match three white balls and the gold Mega Ball with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 4,746 - Prize amount: $800 to $2,000 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

5. Match three white balls (but not the Mega Ball) with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 200 - Prize amount: $40 to $100 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

6. Match two white balls and the gold Mega Ball with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 144 - Prize amount: $40 to $100 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

7. Match one white ball and the gold Mega Ball with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 18 - Prize amount: $8 to $20 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

8. Match just the gold Mega Ball with a Megaplier - Odds of winning: 1 in 14.7 - Prize amount: $4 to $10 (depending on the Megaplier number drawn)

It's worth noting that the Megaplier does not apply to the jackpot, so the odds of winning the jackpot remain the same whether or not the Megaplier option is selected.