Mega Millions Odds and Prizes
In Mega Millions, you can win prizes in nine different categories and the more winning numbers you match, the more you win.
Matching the Mega Ball will get you a $2 prize but if you want to win the jackpot, you need all six winning numbers. The Mega Millions jackpot has a guaranteed amount of $20 million, and it rolls over until someone matches all the numbers. There is no jackpot cap and no rollover limit, therefore the grand prize can keep on growing until someone wins.
Prizes are paid out on a pari-mutuel basis in the Golden State. The amounts received by the lucky participants depend on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners. For each prize category, a certain percentage of the overall prize pool is allocated. That amount will be equally divided between the winners in that category.
On the Numbers page you can explore the most recent Mega Millions results which include details about the last 10 draws.
Mega Millions Odds and Prizes Table
Check out the different prize categories offered with the Mega Millions game and the odds of winning for each of them.
The overall odds of winning a Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.
| Prize Level | CA Prize Fund Amount | Odds of Winning | Average CA Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 5 + Mega Ball | 75.3018% | 1 in 302,575,350 | $230,337,598.43 |
| Match 5 | 7.7520% | 1 in 12,607,306 | $1,247,173.64 |
| Match 4 + Mega Ball | 1.0740% | 1 in 931,001 | $15,407.18 |
| Match 4 | 1.2090% | 1 in 38,792 | $490.01 |
| Match 3 + Mega Ball | 1.3748% | 1 in 14,547 | $202.09 |
| Match 3 | 1.6498% | 1 in 606 | $9.51 |
| JMatch 2 + Mega Ball | 1.4436% | 1 in 693 | $9.54 |
| Match 1 + Mega Ball | 4.7352% | 1 in 89 | $3.81 |
| Match Mega Ball | 5.4598% | 1 in 37 | $2.00 |
Jackpot Payment Options
Winning the Mega Millions jackpot gives you the option to choose how to receive your winnings. You can get the grand prize as:
- Annuity
- Cash
The annuity option means that your prize is paid out over 29 years, in 30 installments.
The cash option means that you receive a single payment of the cash value.
After selecting a payout option, you cannot amend it. If multiple participants match all the winning numbers, the jackpot amount will be equally shared among them.
The Mega Millions jackpot amount is never guaranteed and it is just an estimate. The amount you actually receive can differ depending on ticket sales and interest rates for long-term investments.