Playing Friday's Mega Millions drawing in Florida? Here's what to know (2024)

There are about 940 million reasons why you should buy a Mega Millions ticket for Friday's drawing.

With the fourth biggest jackpot inMega Millionshistory up for grabs on Friday night, plenty of folks are plunking down $2 for a chance to win big.

The odds may be steep (1 in 302,575,350), but winning would certainly be a real life changer.

Here's everything you need to know about the drawing.

What's the Mega Millions jackpot up to?

The jackpot for Friday's drawing is at $940 million. The cash option for the winning numbers is $483.5 million.

Check your Mega Millions numbers:Will anyone claim the $940 million jackpot from this drawing?

Winning numbers:Mega Millions lottery jackpot climbs to nearly $1 billion; no winner in Tuesday drawing

Powerball numbers:Winning Powerballnumbers for Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. No winner, jackpot grows to $325M

Where can I buy a ticket?

Pick up a ticket at an authorized Florida Lottery retailer, use a Florida Lottery mobile app to create a digital playslip, or purchase aQUICKTICKET™in the check-out lane at select Lottery retail locations.

How much do Mega Millions tickets cost?

A ticket is $2 per play.

When is the next drawing for Mega Millions?

The next drawing for Mega Millions will be held at 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6.

When are Mega Millions drawings held?

Drawings are held Tuesday and Friday nights at 11 p.m.

Where can I view the Mega Millions drawings?

You can watch the drawings on official Florida Lottery TV carrier stations, on the Florida Lottery official website, at Florida Lottery retailers statewide, and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.

How late can you buy a Mega Millions ticket in Florida?

In Florida, tickets may be purchased until 10 p.m. on the night of the drawing. Tickets purchased after that time will be for the next drawing.

Are lottery winnings subject to taxation?

Federal income taxes will be withheld from Mega Million prizes, as required by the Internal Revenue Code. Any additional federal, state and/or local taxes shall be the responsibility of the winner.

How is a Mega Millions winner paid?

All Mega Millions prizes, excluding the jackpot, will be a one-time cash payment less applicable taxes. Jackpot winners may elect to receive their winning in a one-time cash payment or 30 graduated annual installments. If there is no jackpot winner, the money in the jackpot pool rolls over to the next drawing.

All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the applicable drawing date. All Mega Millions prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased.

What happens to the money if a Mega Millions jackpot ticket is won in Florida but is not claimed?

At the end of the winning state's claim period (180 days in Florida),the funds to pay a jackpot that go unclaimed will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series.

In Florida, 80 percent of all unclaimed jackpot prizes are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state.

Can I keep my lottery winnings secret?

In Florida, beginning May 25, 2022, the names of Lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.

What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions?

To win the jackpot, the odds of getting all six different numbers correct is 1 in 302,575,350.

The overall odds of winning a lesser Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.

What are the Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots ever?

Here are the Top 10 Powerball jackpots as of Jan. 6, 2023:

• 10.$587.5 million — Nov. 28, 2012; Arizona and Missouri
• 9.$590.5 million — May 18, 2013; Florida
• 8.$632.6 million — Jan. 5, 2022; California and Wisconsin
• 7.$687.8 million — Oct. 27, 2018; Iowa and New York
• 6.$699.8 million — Oct. 4, 2021; California
• 5.$731.1 million — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland
• 4.$758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts
• 3.$768.4 million — Mar. 27, 2019; Wisconsin
• 2.$1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
• 1.$2.04 billion — Nov. 7, 2022; California

What are the Top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever?

According to its website, here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots as of Jan. 6, 2023:

• 10. $522 million — June 5, 2019; California
• 9. $533 million — March 30, 2018; New Jersey
• 8. $536 million — July 6, 2016; Indiana
• 7. $543 million — July 24, 2018; California
• 6. $648 million — Dec. 17, 2013; California and Georgia
• 5. $656 million — March 30, 2012; Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
• 4. $940 million — Jan. 6, 2023; Undetermined
• 3. $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
• 2. $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois
• 1. $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina

What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots ever?

The following Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots made the Top 10 biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, as of Jan. 6, 2023.

• 10.$699.8 million — Oct. 4, 2021; California
• 9.$731.1 million — Jan. 20, 2021; Maryland
• 8.$758.7 million — Aug. 23, 2017; Massachusetts
• 7.$768.4 million — Mar. 27, 2019; Wisconsin
• 6. $940 million — Jan. 6, 2023; Undetermined
• 5.$1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan
• 4.$1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois
• 3.$1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
• 2.$1.586 billion — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
• 1.$2.04 billion — Nov. 7, 2022; California

Grace Pateras is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter@gracepateras.

Contributing: Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal.

What are the Top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever?

What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots ever?