The Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $743 million for the Friday, July 24 drawing, with a one-time cash option of $323.4 million — the 10th-largest prize in the game's history. Winners can choose a lump-sum cash payment or an annuity that rises 5% annually. Recent large non-jackpot prizes include $2 million in California and $3 million in Arizona; the last jackpot winner was in Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day. USA TODAY will post results after the 11 p.m. ET drawing, and ticket rules and claim periods vary by state.
Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $743M — $323.4M Cash Option for Friday Draw
Mega Millions jackpot worth $743M up for grabs Friday, July 24
The Mega Millions jackpot rose to an estimated $743 million ahead of the Friday, July 24 drawing, with the one-time cash option valued at $323.4 million — the 10th-largest prize in the game's history.
If a ticket matches all six numbers on Friday night, the winner will choose between the lump-sum cash payment or an annuity-style payout that begins with an immediate payment followed by annual checks, each increasing by 5% over the previous year.
No ticket matched all six numbers in the most recent drawing, but two players claimed large non-jackpot prizes: one in California won $2 million and another in Arizona won $3 million. The last Mega Millions jackpot winner took home $60 million in Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day.
How to Play
Mega Millions is played across 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $5. Players choose six numbers: five different white-ball numbers from 1–70 and one gold Mega Ball from 1–24. You can also select a computer-generated "Quick Pick" or "Easy Pick."
Prizes and Multipliers
The jackpot is awarded to any ticket that matches all six numbers. If more than one ticket wins the jackpot, the advertised prize is split evenly among the winners. Recent rule changes built the prize multiplier into tickets, increasing non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x without an extra fee.
Where and When
Buy tickets at many retail locations such as convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores; in participating states tickets may also be purchased online. USA TODAY will publish the winning numbers for Friday’s drawing immediately after the 11 p.m. ET drawing. The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28 at 11 p.m. ET.
Claim Periods and Advice for Winners
Prize-claim deadlines vary by state; Mega Millions officials say claim windows typically range from 90 days to one year from the draw date. Winners should check their state lottery website for specific deadlines and consult tax and legal advisors before claiming large prizes.
Notable Anecdote
Two longtime friends in Wisconsin, Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney, agreed years ago to split future lottery winnings. Cook honored that agreement after winning a $22 million prize on June 10, 2020, and shared the payout with Feeney.
Some Of The Biggest Mega Millions Jackpots
- $1.602 billion — Aug. 8, 2023 (Florida)
- $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
- $1.348 billion — Jan. 1, 2023 (Maine)
- $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
- $1.269 billion — Dec. 27, 2024 (California)
- $1.128 billion — Mar. 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
- $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021 (Michigan)
- $983 million — Nov. 14, 2025 (Georgia)
- $810 million — Sept. 10, 2024 (Texas)
- $743 million — July 24, 2026 (winner TBD)
Why Powerball Sometimes Grows Faster
Powerball jackpots can sometimes grow faster than Mega Millions because of differences in ticket sales, jackpot starting levels, and rollover rules — factors that influence how quickly the advertised prize increases between drawings.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions jackpot worth $743M up for grabs Friday, July 24
Tennessee Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul, left, walks with an excited Janis Goodwin, middle and Frances Davenport as they prepare to pick up their million-dollar Powerball check at the lottery headquarters in Nashville on Oct. 3, 2005.(Sanford Myers, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne presents a commemorative check Thursday, April 25, 2024 to April Zipp, the winner of a $1 million Mega Millions lottery ticket purchased in Jonestown.(Matthew Toth, Lebanon Daily News via USA TODAY Network)
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis, Wis., winner of a $768.4 million Powerball jackpot poses on Manuel April 23, 2019 with Wisconsin Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca, Wisconsin Lottery Director Cindy Polzin and Moola, the lottery mascot.(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Lerynne West steps forward to claim a $343.9 million Powerball jackpot, the largest prize in Iowa history, Nov. 5, 2018.(Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register, The DesMoines Register via USA TODAY Network)
Robert Bailey holds his check for $343.8 million from the Oct. 27, 2018 Powerball drawing in the Queens borough of New York, Nov. 14, 2018.(SHANNON STAPLETON, REUTERS)
Desiree Fortini-Craft of Hyde Park won $25 million.(Mass. Lottery)
Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney of Wisconsin agreed years ago to split future lottery winnings. Cook followed through on that promise when he won a $22 million prize on June 10, 2020.(Photo courtesy Wisconsin Lottery)
Kelsey Zachow, 24, of Port Huron holds a $66 million Mega Millions jackpot check. Zachow, along with her family, received the check in Sterling Heights.(Jessica J. Trevino/Detroit Free Press)
Mary and Brian Lohse won a Powerball jackpot prize worth $202.1 million in Bondurant, Iowa, in October 2012. Lottery CEO Terry Rich congratulates the winners, Mary, left, and Brian, at a news conference after the couple claimed the prize.(Rodney White/The Register)
Cristy Davis, a Waterford, Michigan resident was forced to reveal her identity after winning $70 million in the Powerball in June 2020. She is now a proud advocate for winners to keep their identity anonymous.(Lottery Post)
$180 million Mega Millions winner Rick Knudsen of Calimesa and his wife Lorie at the California Lottery Inland Empire District Office in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014.(Photo courtesy California Lottery)
Iowa Lottery's Edward Stanek, left, with Tim and Kellie Guderian of Fort Dodge, the winners of a $200.8 million Powerball jackpot in 2006. "We played the lottery about twice a month, but never expected to win," Tim said. shown here during press conference Wed Oct. 4, 2006, at the Iowa Lottery headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.(Rodney White, The DesMoines Register via USA TODAY Network)
Tom Delacenserie (L), Secretary of the Florida Lottery poses with Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach with an oversized check after opting to claim their share in a lump sum payment in a winning ticket, worth $528.8 million, from the Jan. 13 drawing at the state's lottery headquarters in Tallahassee Feb. 17, 2016. The Florida couple claimed their share of last month's record $1.6 billion U.S. Powerball lottery jackpot on Wednesday, coming forward with the second of the three winning tickets.(Don Moore, REUTERS)
Powerball jackpot co-winners Lisa and John Robinson (L) of Munford, Tennessee and Tennessee Lottery President and CEO Rebecca Hargrove (R) attend a news conference at the headquarters of the Tennessee Lottery in Nashville, Jan. 15, 2016. The couple revealed on the TODAY television show that they held a winning ticket to claim their share of the $1.6 billion Powerball prize.(Harrison McClary, REUTERS)
Powerball lottery winners known as "The Ocean's 16 group", comprising of workers from an Ocean County garage, pose for a picture after a news conference in Tom's River, N.J., Aug. 13, 2013. Sixteen county maintenance department workers from New Jersey submitted the second winning ticket on Monday in the $448 million Powerball lottery, officials said. The group from Ocean County, on the Jersey shore, was presented with a check for $86,054,355, their share of the jackpot after taxes, lottery officials said.(Eduardo Munoz, REUTERS)
Paul White (L), 45, from Ham Lake, Minnesota, stands with his partner Kim VanReese (C) and co-worker Nancy Bowen (R) as he holds a check for his $149.4 million portion of a $448.4 million Powerball jackpot prize at a news conference at Minnesota State Lottery headquarters in Roseville, Aug. 8, 2013. White, the first to come forward to claim his money, was one of three winners of the jackpot.(Eric Miller, REUTERS)
Pedro Quezada, winner of the Powerball lottery, holds up the promotional Powerball jackpot check of $338 million at the end of a news conference at the New Jersey Lottery headquarters in Trenton, March 26, 2013.(Eduardo Munoz, REUTERS)
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