Current:Home > ScamsWho won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot in Texas? We may never know. -AssetVision
Who won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot in Texas? We may never know.
View
Date:2025-04-16 02:52:24
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! (74519)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Train carrying Kim Jong Un enters Russia en route to meeting with Vladimir Putin
- Hurricane Lee's projected path to bring big surf, dangerous currents to US East Coast
- Wisconsin wolf hunters face tighter regulations under new permanent rules
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Kamala Harris says GOP claims that Democrats support abortion up until birth are mischaracterization
- Mary Kay Letourneau’s Daughter Georgia Shares Vili Fualaau’s Reaction to Her Pregnancy
- Aaron Rodgers hurts ankle in first series for Jets, is carted off sideline and ruled out of game
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Trial begins over Texas voter laws that sparked 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021
Ranking
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- MTV Video Music Awards return Tuesday, with an all-female artist of the year category
- Get a Front Row Seat to Heidi Klum's Fashion Week Advice for Daughter Leni Klum
- A new campaign ad from Poland’s ruling party features Germany’s chancellor in unfavorable light
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Sweden: Norwegian man guilty of storing dead partner’s body in a freezer to cash in her pension
- Aerosmith postpones shows after frontman Steven Tyler suffers vocal cord damage
- Cybersecurity ‘issue’ prompts computer shutdowns at MGM Resorts properties across US
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Amy Schumer deletes Instagram post making fun of Nicole Kidman at the US Open
The Deion Effect: College GameDay, Big Noon Kickoff headed to Colorado
Sentencing delayed for a New Hampshire man convicted of running an unlicensed bitcoin business
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
A Montana man who was mauled by a grizzly bear is doing well but has long recovery head, family says
Falling lifeguard stand kills sleeping 28-year-old woman in Virginia
Attention morning glories! This habit is essential to start the day: How to make a bed