The latest drawing of the Mega Millions lottery, held on March 10, 2026, resulted in no jackpot winners as the numbers drawn were 16, 21, 30, 35, and 65, with the Mega Ball being 7. The jackpot had climbed to an impressive estimated $533 million, or a cash option of $244.2 million, but fortune eluded participants this time around.
For those eagerly anticipating their chances at winning, the next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for this Friday, with drawings taking place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Interested players in New Jersey can purchase their tickets in-store or online until 10:45 p.m. on the night of the drawing, providing a last-minute opportunity to take part in the excitement.
Each Mega Millions ticket costs $5 to play, with various ways to win beyond the jackpot. The game has introduced a new built-in multiplier, which can increase non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or even ten times, adding an extra layer of excitement to gameplay.
The payouts in the Mega Millions game vary based on the number of matching balls. A player matching five white balls plus the Mega Ball would win the jackpot, while matching five white balls alone guarantees a prize of between $2 million and $10 million, depending on the specific combination. Other prize tiers include amounts ranging from $10 for matching just the Mega Ball to $400 for matching three white balls and the Mega Ball.
Players eyeing the jackpot should be aware that the odds of winning it remain quite steep, with a chance of 1 in 290,472,336.
For those looking to check their numbers, the winning results can be found on the official Mega Millions website, and the drawing can also be viewed on YouTube.
Winners of the jackpot have two payment options available: an annuity or a cash lump sum. The annuity involves one immediate payment followed by 29 annual increments that increase by 5% each year. This structure helps safeguard winners’ financial stability against inflation. Alternatively, the cash option provides a one-time payment reflecting the total cash available in the jackpot prize pool. In cases where multiple people win the jackpot, the prize money is shared equally among all winning tickets, making it a potentially life-changing event for those lucky enough to hold a winning ticket.
