Mega Millions Jackpot Hits a Record with No Winner Yet
It’s been built up for weeks, and the anticipation in the United States is mounting. The winning numbers on Friday night were 16, 21, 23, 48, 70 and the gold Mega Ball number was 5. But no one had all six numbers, so the jackpot rolls over yet again.
This is the 38th time since the jackpot was hit in Virginia on June 27. This is also now the longest period without a jackpot winner in the history of the game, which began in 2002, according to a statement from Mega Millions of officials. The previous record had been 37 drawings, established on Jan. 22, 2021 when a lucky player in Michigan claimed an unbelievable $1.050 billion prize.
Despite no grand prize winner, Mega Millions jackpot officials say the number of smaller winners has continued to grow. “Despite the lack of a jackpot win, there are millions of winning tickets in New York State and many thousands sold throughout the state every day,” officials said.
Since rolling after the last win in June, the jackpot has generated nearly 11.7 million winning tickets across prize levels. The cumulative prize money from these tickets has already exceeded $274 million. The bump follows changes made to the game in April last year, which saw lower-tier prize amounts raised.
Many Small Wins, Big Excitement
In this jackpot run, 256 third-tier winning tickets have been sold with prizes ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. While these prizes might not turn anyone into a millionaire, they’re potentially life-changing sums for many players.
There weren’t any other jackpots earlier this year before the win in Virginia on June 27. On April 18, another winner in Ohio became $112 million richer; on March 25, someone in Illinois won $349 million; and one more person in Arizona claimed a prize of $112 million on Jan. 17. Every win sparked grand celebrations and encouraged millions of players to take a chance.
No ticket matched the large jackpot in last night’s Mega Millions lottery drawing, but jackpot officials reminded players there is still a lot of money to go around. For the November 4 draw alone, there were 606,046 winning tickets at all prize levels. In all, the tickets generated more than $12.2 million in overall winnings across the country.
The Odds and the Dream
The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are famously steep — 1 in 290,472,336. So, your odds of getting rich overnight are pretty slim in all likelihood — but that doesn’t stop millions from buying tickets anyway. After all, someone eventually wins.
Mega Millions is available in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the United States Virgin Islands. Tickets are $5 per play which is a small price to dream big. It doesn’t matter if you purchase your ticket from a local corner store or over the internet: The collective anticipation for the numbers to be drawn is an experience that brings people together around the country.
Record-Breaking Jackpots
The biggest Mega Millions prize ever — an enormous $1.6 billion — was claimed on Aug. 8, 2023. The historic event made headlines across the globe, and it forever changed one fortunate winner’s life. For a jackpot that once started at a modest $40 million, and since then has left players of the game sitting with bated breath as they wait for another night of mega-millions, that dream continues to inch closer to reality — if this next drawing yields no winner.
The longer the jackpot rolls over, the higher the prize climbs — and perhaps back into billion-dollar territory. For players, it’s long enough that it means anticipation, excitement and hours upon hours of “what if” discussions. How do you spend a million dollars overnight?
The Human Side of Hope
Though the chances are slim, people keep on playing the Mega Millions jackpot, because it’s more than just money — it’s hope. And every ticket offers a tiny spark of hope. For only $5, the story goes, anyone can imagine a fresh reality — a dream home, freedom from debt or an opportunity to assist family and friends.
For others, the fun is not just in winning but also in being part of something big. Wouldn’t be surprised if other people get butterflies from watching the numbers come in on TV or consulting them online. And in the case of smaller prizes, it reinforces that luck can strike anywhere and at any time.
What Comes Next
Now the historic jackpot continues to soar, with players across the country eagerly eyeing the next winning result. And with 38 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, the stakes are higher than ever.
The next lottery will it be an end to the streak? Or will it roll over once more and send the Mega Millions jackpot to another record?
What’s for sure is millions of eyes will be watching the numbers next time. And, until it is, the dream of striking it rich still captivates millions of players around the country.
