Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $604 Million Ahead of Friday Drawing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lottery players will have a chance to win an estimated $604 million Mega Millions jackpot during Friday night’s drawing.

The jackpot has continued to grow since March 17, the last time a player matched all six numbers to claim the top prize. The cash option for Friday’s drawing is estimated at $263.3 million.

The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, July 10, at 10 p.m. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday night. Players are typically encouraged to purchase tickets before 9:45 p.m. on drawing nights.

Players select five numbers between 1 and 70, along with one Mega Ball number between 1 and 24. There are nine ways to win a prize, ranging from $10 to the jackpot.

If no ticket matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over and increases for the next drawing.

The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are approximately 1 in 23, while the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302,575,350.

The winner of the jackpot can choose between receiving the prize as a one-time cash payment or through 30 graduated annual payments. Most winners choose the cash option.

Friday’s jackpot sits just outside the top 10 largest Mega Millions prizes in history.

Largest Mega Millions jackpots:

• $1.602 billion — Aug. 8, 2023 (Florida)
• $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
• $1.348 billion — Jan. 13, 2023 (Maine)
• $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
• $1.269 billion — Dec. 27, 2024 (California)
• $1.128 billion — March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
• $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021 (Michigan)
• $810 million — Sept. 10, 2024 (Texas)
• $656 million — March 30, 2012 (Illinois, Kansas and Maryland)
• $648 million — Dec. 17, 2013 (California and Georgia)