Mega Millions jackpot hits $438M for Feb. 24. See winning numbers.
Mega Millions jackpot hits $438M for Feb. 24. See winning numbers.
Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAYWed, February 25, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC
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The Mega Millions jackpot climbed ahead of the Tuesday, Feb. 24 drawing, reaching $438 million with a cash value of $203.1 million.
If someone were to get lucky Tuesday night and win the jackpot, they’ll have two options: take home a one-time, lump-sum cash payment or receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks, each 5% larger than the previous year.
According to Mega Millions, only 28 out of the 45 states that participate in the lottery have been lucky enough to win the jackpot. The largest Mega Millions jackpot was won in Florida back in 2023, when one lucky player took home $1.602 billion.
The top five states with the most winners include New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan. Here is what to know about Tuesday night's drawing.
1 / 0See Powerball and Mega Millions winners who hit the jackpotTennessee Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul, left, walks with an excited Janis Goodwin, middle and Frances Davenport as they prepare to pick up their million-dollar Powerball check at the lottery headquarters in Nashville on Oct. 3, 2005.What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for 2/24/2026?
USA TODAY will post the winning numbers for Tuesday’s Mega Millions lottery after the drawing at 11 p.m. ET
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, at 11 p.m. ET.
Millionaire for Life lottery: How to play and win the jackpot
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
States with the most lottery winners: What you .
What is Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is a lottery played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools — five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) — or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing. In the event of multiple jackpot winners, the jackpot prize will be shared.
Lottery tickets for the Mega Millions lottery are purchased from a liquor store in Hawthorne, California, on Dec. 27, 2024.How to play the Mega Millions
To play the Mega Millions, you have to buy a ticket. Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls, numbers from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24.
If you’re feeling especially unlucky or don’t want to go through the hassle of picking, you can ask for a "Quick Pick" or "Easy Pick." These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.
Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times. Before, players had to pay an extra dollar to add the "Megaplier.”
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Mega Millions 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 York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia.
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); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
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 article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mega Millions winning numbers for Feb. 24 drawing: $438M jackpot
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