Mega Millions jackpot hits $496M for March 6. See winning numbers.
See which states are the luckiest in the lottery
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes shares which states have claimed the most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots wins.
The Mega Millions jackpot continues to rise and now sits at an estimated $496 million, with a cash option of $232.6 million, ahead of the drawing on March 6.
Friday’s drawing comes days after one lucky person in Arkansas took home the Powerball jackpot of $251 million. Mega Millions, on the other hand, has been in a bit of a dry spell as of late, as no one has won the jackpot since December, when a New Jersey ticket holder scored the $90 million jackpot.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Mega Millions drawing.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for 3/6/2026?
The winning numbers for Friday’s Mega Millions lottery are 8, 19, 26, 38 and 42. The Mega Ball is 24.
Did anyone win the Mega Millions jackpot?
No one won the Mega Millions jackpot, but two lucky winners, one in Arizona and one in Florida, matched five balls and multiplier to win $2 million and $4 million, respectively.
Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots
- $1.602 billion on Aug. 8, 2023 in Florida
- $1.537 billion on Oct. 23, 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion on Jan. 1, 2023 in Maine
- $1.337 billion on July 29, 2022 in Illinois
- $1.269 billion on Dec. 27, 2024 in California
- $1.128 billion on Mar. 26, 2024 in New Jersey
- $1.05 billion on Jan 22, 2021 in Michigan
- $983 million on Nov. 14, 2025 in Georgia
- $810 million on Sept. 10, 2024 in Texas
- $656 million on March 30, 2012 in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern time, just hours after ticket sales close. The jackpot has risen to $533 million for next Tuesday’s drawing on March 10.
How much does a Mega Millions ticket cost?
Mega Millions tickets cost $5 per play. The multiplier is automatically included and applies to non‑jackpot prizes.
What are the odds of winning?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336.
How do you play Mega Millions?
Players select:
- Five numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls), and
- One Mega Ball number from 1 to 24
Players can also choose a Quick Pick, where numbers are randomly generated.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This content is sourced from www.usatoday.com and is shared for informational purposes only.
