Current:Home > StocksWho won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot in Texas? We may never know. -Balance Wealth Academy
Who won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot in Texas? We may never know.
View
Date:2025-04-23 02:01:06
Someone in Texas has won the $810 million Mega Millions game, making them the third Mega Millions jackpot winner of the year. But we may never know who bought the winning ticket in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land and scored a very sweet win.
The winner has the option to claim the prize anonymously because the Lone Star State allows winners of jackpots of over $1 million to keep their identity a secret.
"We are beyond thrilled to celebrate Texas’ largest-ever jackpot winner and can’t wait to meet and congratulatethem in person,” Ryan Mindell, executive director of the Texas Lottery, said in a news release announcing the winning ticket.
Texas is one of 17 states that allows national lottery winners to remain anonymous. The list of states includes Illinois, where a Mega Millions winner took advantage of the state's anonymity laws earlier this year.
Here's what else to know.
Feeling Lucky? Explore the Latest Lottery News & Results
Where Mega Millions winners can remain anonymous
- Arizona: Prize must be over $100,000
- Arkansas: Prize must be over $500,000 and a winner is only anonymous for three years
- Delaware: Any prize
- Georgia: Prize must be over $250,000
- Illinois: Prize must be over $250,000
- Kansas: Any prize
- Maryland: Any prize
- Michigan: Prize must be over $10,000 in state-run games only
- Minnesota: Prize must be over $10,000
- Mississippi: Any prize
- Missouri: Any prize
- Montana: Any prize
- New Jersey: Any prize
- North Dakota: Any prize
- South Carolina: Any prize
- Texas: Prize must be over $1 million
- Virginia: Prize must be greater than $10 million
- West Virginia: Prize must be over $1 million
- Wyoming: Any prize
What is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
The jackpot won Tuesday night was not one of the top five largest prizes of all time. The top five are:
- $1.602 billion from one winning ticket in Florida in August 2023
- $1.537 billion from one winning ticket in October 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.35 billion from one winning ticket in January 2023 in Maine
- $1.34 billion from one winning ticket in July 2022 in Illinois
- $1.12 billion from one winning ticket in March 2024 in New Jersey
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are long. Players have a one in 302,575,350 shot at winning the grand prize, a one in 12,607,306 shot at winning the $1 million prize and a one in 24 chance of winning any prize.
How to play Mega Millions
Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play.
There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
To play, pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. You can choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.
What is the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
veryGood! (19)
Related
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice refuses to disclose names of others looking at impeachment
- What happens to the stock market if the government shuts down? The dollars and cents of it
- Afghan embassy says it is stopping operations in Indian capital
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Hundreds of thousands of workers may be impacted by furloughs if government shutdown occurs
- Could scientists resurrect the extinct Tasmanian tiger? New breakthrough raises hopes
- New Greek opposition leader says he will take a break from politics to do his military service
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- A Spanish court rejects appeal to reopen the investigation into tycoon John McAfee’s jail cell death
Ranking
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Indiana governor breaks ground on $1.2 billion state prison that will replace 2 others
- Another Taylor Swift surge? Ticket prices to Chiefs matchup against Jets in New York rise
- Utah and Arizona will pay to keep national parks open if federal government shutdown occurs
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- A bus carrying dozens of schoolchildren overturns in northwest England, seriously injuring 1 person
- GOP senators sharply question Pentagon nominee about Biden administration’s foreign policies
- Stop this effort Now: Democratic Party officials urge leaders to denounce No Labels in internal email
Recommendation
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Homes unaffordable in 99% of nation for average American
What to know as fall vaccinations against COVID, flu and RSV get underway
Indiana governor breaks ground on $1.2 billion state prison that will replace 2 others
Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
Traveling with Milley: A reporter recalls how America’s top soldier was most at home with his troops
Project conserves 3,700 acres of forest in northern New Hampshire
Trump's legal team asks to delay deadlines in special counsel's election interference case