Current:Home > InvestWho 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:2025-04-12 03:40:01
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! (647)
Related
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Wounded California officer fatally shoots man during ‘unprovoked’ knife attack
- Vanderbilt takes down No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in historic college football victory
- 'Joker: Folie à Deux' ending: Who dies? Who walks? Who gets the last laugh?
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse Make Rare Joint Appearance Months After Welcoming Baby
- Davante Adams pushes trade drama into overdrive with cryptic clues
- Katie Meyer's parents, Stanford at odds over missing evidence in wrongful death lawsuit
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Washington fans storms the field after getting revenge against No. 10 Michigan
Ranking
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Anne Hathaway’s Reaction to The Princess Diaries 3 Announcement Proves Miracles Happen
- Katie Meyer's parents, Stanford at odds over missing evidence in wrongful death lawsuit
- Artem Chigvintsev Responds After Nikki Garcia Says He Attacked Her
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Curbside ‘Composting’ Is Finally Citywide in New York. Or Is It?
- Caitlin Clark Shares Tribute to Boyfriend Connor McCaffery After Being Named WNBA’s Rookie of the Year
- Some children tied to NY nurse’s fake vaccine scheme are barred from school
Recommendation
Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
FEMA has faced criticism and praise during Helene. Here’s what it does — and doesn’t do
Georgia businessman convicted of cheating two ex-NBA players of $8M
How Jacob Elordi Celebrated Girlfriend Olivia Jade Giannulli’s 25th Birthday
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Is Boar's Head deli meat safe to eat? What experts say amid listeria outbreak
How Trump credits an immigration chart for saving his life and what the graphic is missing
Ryan Reynolds Makes Hilarious Case for Why Taking Kids to Pumpkin Patch Is Where Joy Goes to Die