Current:Home > MyWho won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot in Texas? We may never know. -FundWay
Who won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot in Texas? We may never know.
View
Date:2025-04-16 15:26:30
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! (2)
Related
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- After Baltimore mass shooting, neighborhood goes full year with no homicides
- Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
- Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold death says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- A herniated disc is painful, debilitating. How to get relief.
- Contained, extinguished and mopping up: Here’s what some common wildfire terms mean
- Republican Vos reelected as Wisconsin Assembly speaker despite losing seats, fights with Trump
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- NCT DREAM enters the 'DREAMSCAPE': Members on new album, its concept and songwriting
Ranking
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39
- Garth Brooks wants to move his sexual assault case to federal court. How that could help the singer.
- Homes of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce burglarized, per reports
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Deommodore Lenoir contract details: 49ers ink DB to $92 million extension
- Family of security guard shot and killed at Portland, Oregon, hospital sues facility for $35M
- Kentucky officer reprimanded for firing non-lethal rounds in 2020 protests under investigation again
Recommendation
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Ben Foster Files for Divorce From Laura Prepon After 6 Years of Marriage
Shawn Mendes quest for self-discovery is a quiet triumph: Best songs on 'Shawn' album
Tom Brady Shares How He's Preparing for Son Jack to Be a Stud
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Social media star squirrel euthanized after being taken from home tests negative for rabies
Republican Dan Newhouse wins reelection to US House in Washington
Dallas Long, who won 2 Olympic medals while dominating the shot put in the 1960s, has died at 84