Do you win anything if you get 1 number right on Mega Millions?

Each Mega Millions draw has nine levels of prizes you can win depending on how many numbers you match on your ticket. The bottom prize level, which is won by matching just the Mega Ball gives players $2, while the jackpot is won by matching all five numbers and the Mega Ball. The top prize starts at $20 million and will roll over and increase every time it's not won, with no limit on the amount it can rise to.

If the jackpot is won by multiple people then it is shared equally among all the winning tickets. The other eight prizes below the jackpot are fixed amounts and will be guaranteed to each winner in that tier regardless of how many people match those numbers.

The chart below shows how many numbers you need to win a prize, the payout for those numbers and the odds of it happening on your ticket.

Mega Millions Payout ChartMatchOddsPrizeFewest
Ever WinnersHighest
Ever WinnersAverage
Winners Per DrawWinners in Last Draw5 Numbers + Mega Ball1 in 302,575,350Jackpot040.205 Numbers1 in 12,607,306$1 Million01612.814 Numbers + Mega Ball1 in 931,001$10,000089727.3184 Numbers1 in 38,792$500840,423794.24103 Numbers + Mega Ball1 in 14,547$2005146,8871,649.41,2023 Numbers1 in 606$107712,086,57144,344.926,7802 Numbers + Mega Ball1 in 693$101,325807,03232,947.525,1031 Number + Mega Ball1 in 89$411,1986,401,966247,850202,778Mega Ball Only1 in 37$232,16516,071,858596,466.7507,328

Tonight's MegaMillions Jackpot

Cash Lump Sum: $250.4 Million

Mega Millions also offers players the chance to include the Megaplier on their ticket for an additional $1 entry fee. The Megaplier works by multiplying all non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5x, depending on which Megaplier number is drawn. The Megaplier option can be added in any state or jurisdiction other than Calirfornia.

Megaplier Payout Chart

Here are all the prizes you can win if you include the Megaplier on your ticket

Megaplier Payout ChartMegaplierMatchBase Prize2x3x4x5x5 Numbers$1 million$2 million$3 million$4 million$5 million4 Numbers + Mega Ball$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,0004 Numbers$500$1,000$1,500$2,000$2,5003 Numbers + Mega Ball$100$200$300$400$5003 Numbers$10$20$30$40$502 Numbers + Mega Ball$10$20$30$40$501 Number + Mega Ball$4$8$12$16$20Mega Ball Only$2$4$6$8$10

The Megaplier is also done via a draw to choose whether it will multiply prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times. Below are the odds for each one of these Megapliers to be chosen

Megaplier OddsMegaplierOdds of being Drawn2x1 in 33x1 in 2.54x1 in 55x1 in 15

Just the Jackpot

Some states offer the chance to play for Just the Jackpot in Mega Millions at a discounted entry fee. Two entries costs $3, rather than the usual $4, but players cannot win a prize other than the jackpot. If you match anything other than all five numbers and the Mega Ball, then you will not win anything.

Do you like big jackpots (and you cannot lie)? Mega Millions might be the game for you. In 2019, Mega Millions reached a record-breaking jackpot of $1.537 billion and earlier in 2021 it reached $1.060 billion. That’s with a B.

So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know to have some mega fun playing your lucky numbers.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game that’s available in 44 states, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands.

Ticket Cost: $2.00

Jackpots: Starting at $20 million, determined by ticket sales (as of April 3, 2020)

Drawings: Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 pm ET

Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24

Biggest Mega Millions jackpot in history: $1.537 billion (October 2018)

Select 5 numbers from 1–70 and 1 Mega Ball number from 1–25. You can Quick Pick or choose your own lucky numbers. To win the jackpot, match all five numbers (order doesn’t matter) and the Mega Ball. When you order your ticket on Jackpocket, we'll send you the ticket scan for easy viewing in the app and a confirmation email with all your order details, including your ticket serial number. All that's left to do is wait for the drawing! Mega Millions drawings are held at 11:00 PM ET on Tuesdays and Fridays.

When this Jackpocket player saw the "You Won Big" notification on her phone, she thought she won $1,000. Fun fact: She actually won $1,000,000! 🤯

Those three extras 0’s make a big difference! Congrats, new millionaire! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fEeuZc43ZJ

— Jackpocket (@Jackpocket) January 26, 2022

There are 9 ways you can win a Mega Millions prize, ranging from the jackpot to $2. For example: if you match all five numbers but don’t match the Mega Ball, you win $1 million. If you only match the Mega Ball, you break even with a $2 payout. Bottom line: you have a 1 in 24 shot at winning any prize.

What happens if you match the Mega Ball only?

If you match only the Mega Ball (and don't match any of the 5 regular numbers), you win a $2 prize and break even on the $2 cost of your Mega Millions ticket. 

Are two numbers worth anything in Mega Millions?

It depends what kind of numbers! If you match 1 regular number and the Mega Ball, the prize is $4. If you match 2 regular numbers only, there is no prize.

What is the Megaplier?

For an extra $1 per game, you can add the Megaplier to your Mega Millions ticket. This multiplies your prize amount — not including the jackpot — by up to five times. The “multiplier” number is announced along with the winning numbers after the drawing.

Thumbs up to Todd of Littleton, Colorado for adding the Megaplier to his #MegaMillions ticket and winning $30,000 🤑 pic.twitter.com/f5a4ESRj8q

— Jackpocket (@Jackpocket) January 8, 2021

How do you claim a Mega Millions prize?

If you bought your Mega Millions ticket in person from a retailer, check your state lottery website for more information on how to claim your prize. It can vary by state. For example, in Texas, prizes up to $599 are redeemable from any Texas State lottery retailer.

Lucky for you, when you order your ticket on Jackpocket, we automatically alert you when you win! For smaller lottery prizes (usually under $600 depending on your state), Jackpocket credits your account for the full amount. For larger prizes, we arrange to have the ticket securely delivered to you so that you can claim your prize from the state lottery.

Cash vs annuity payouts

If you hit the Mega Millions jackpot, you get to choose how you want to be paid! The Mega Millions annuity is paid in first with 1 payment when you win, followed by 29 annual payments. Or you can go with the cash option—a one-time, lump sum that is equal to the cash in the Mega Millions prize pool. When Mega Millions announces the estimated jackpot size before a drawing, they include the size of the cash option.

Which state has the most Mega Millions winners?

A total of 26 individual states have taken home a Mega Millions jackpot. New York has the most Mega Millions jackpot wins with 38 total. Here's a breakdown of Mega Millions jackpot winners by state.