Mega Millions winning numbers drawing for Friday 10/18/24

Is today your lucky day?

According to the Mega Millions website, the Mega Millions lottery jackpot was estimated to be $185 million with a cash option of $88 million for Friday night's drawing.

The jackpot was last won on September 10, when a lottery player in Texas won $810 million – the seventh largest Mega Million of all time.

Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot stands at $437 million with a cash option of $210.7 million, according to the Powerball website.

What are the Mega Millions winning numbers for 10/18/24?

Here are the Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, October 18, 2024:

4 – 9 – 26 – 39 – 58 and Megaball 23

Megaplier was 4x

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When is the next Mega Millions drawing?

Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m

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How do I play Mega Millions?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which increases the amount of your potential win to five times the original prize (excluding the jackpot).

Each player chooses five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the mega ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random quick selection for you. You do not have to be a US citizen or a resident of a specific state in which you purchase your ticket.

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How many balls do I have to collect to win the Mega Millions?

You can win $2 for matching Mega Ball. Just before the jackpot, you can win up to $1 million if you hit all five white balls (except in California). You can check all prize payouts on the Mega Millions website here.

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Where are the Mega Millions available?

You can play the game in 45 states as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states that do not offer Mega Millions are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

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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 USA TODAY Network's official digital lottery courier, in these states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington DC and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to select your lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket and collect your winnings – all from your phone or home computer.

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What is the deadline for purchasing Mega Millions tickets?

The deadline to purchase a Mega Millions ticket varies by state. So don't wait until the last minute. It can take 15 minutes to an hour or longer to actually draw. On some third-party lottery apps, the deadline may be closer to two hours before the drawing. For example, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a 9:15 p.m. deadline for the 11:00 p.m. ET drawing.

Click here to check the deadline for your location.

What are my chances of winning the lottery?

Playing the Mega Millions can be exciting, but don't spend those millions before you win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350 to 1. The odds of hitting all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1.

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What does cash option mean?

Major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.

The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments, increasing by 5% each year. The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but is paid out in a flat rate. You don't have to wait decades for all the money.

Can a jackpot winner remain anonymous?

In some states, such as New Jersey, you can win the lottery anonymously. It wasn't always that way, but now winners can remain anonymous under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. In other states, a winner's name and hometown are public record. Contact your state lottery for more information.

What are the top 10 Mega Millions jackpots?

Here are the top 10 Mega Millions jackpots of all time:

$1.602 billion, August 8, 2023: Won in Florida
$1.537 billion, October 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, January 13, 2023: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
$1.128 billion, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
$1.05 billion, January 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$810 million, September 10, 2024: Won in Texas
$656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
$648 million, December 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
$552 million, June 4, 2024: Won in Illinois

What was the largest US lottery jackpot of all time?

Here's a look at the highest jackpots won in the United States between the Powerball and Mega Millions lottery:

$2.04 billion, Powerball, November 7, 2022: Won in California
$1.765 billion, Powerball, October 11, 2023: Won in California
$1.602 billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023: Won in Florida
$1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Mega Millions, January 13, 2022: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
$1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
$1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
$1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, January 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$842.4 million, Powerball, January 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
$810 million, Mega Millions, September 10, 2024: Won in Texas
$768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
$758.7 million, Powerball, August 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
$754.6 million, Powerball: February 6, 2023: Won in Washington
$731.1 million, Powerball, January 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
$699.8 million, Powerball, October 4, 2021: Won in California
$687.8 million, Powerball, October 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
$656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may generate revenue through 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). Please see jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.